Hajra Naz
Apple is adjusting its App Store policies. The company wants to make it harder for minors to use online dating apps. The new rules also target AI companions that engage in “sexual or romantic content.” The tech giant shared this update in an announcement to developers on Monday.
These new rules follow other changes made by the company. Apple aims to better protect minors using its devices. Past efforts include rolling out age assurance technology globally. The company also added more parental controls and child safety features.
Most major dating services typically restrict their platforms to adults. Even so, Apple’s new policy goes further. It will require all apps offering dating or romantic relationship features to carry an 18+ rating. Starting November 16, developers must include new content descriptors. These tags will ensure that an app’s age ratings accurately reflect its features, according to the company.
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The rule has massive implications for AI companion apps. This includes platforms where romantic functionality is just one of many features. Popular apps like Character.AI and Replika let people create virtual friends. Users can design lovers, boyfriends, girlfriends, and other fantasy characters.
Elon Musk’s xAI also launched 3D animated AI companions last year. Those characters allowed users to unlock NSFW capabilities. By last summer, top AI companion apps across the Apple App Store and Google Play had reached 220 million global downloads.
In addition to “dating and relationships,” apps must flag another specific feature. They need to indicate if they share a user’s real-world location with another person or group. Any app doing this raises clear privacy concerns. This is especially dangerous if a user is unaware that their location is being broadcasted.
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The company noted specific regional exceptions. In Brazil, apps that provide location-sharing features for families can request an official rating from the government’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP). This allows them to bypass standard rating requirements under local law.
