The iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 come with a new age verification feature for the UK users. The UK’s Office of Communications (Ofcom) recently ordered social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat), video sharing sites (YouTube, TikTok) and even games (Roblox) to implement age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act from 2023.
Apple has joined the club by adding age verification. Apple users in the UK will find that certain services and features are restricted in version 26.4. You first need to verify that you are 18 or older using a credit card or by scanning your ID. Apple will then automatically verify you if possible.
Users who haven’t verified their age or are younger than 18 will have the Web Content Filter and Communication Safety features automatically enabled.
According to Politico, the Online Safety Act does not apply to operating systems or app stores. Ofcom is still considering whether it should include them in the law. By the time it publishes its report in January 2027, we’ll know for sure.
According to Ofcom, age verification isn’t required for iOS or the app store, but it also didn’t object to Apple’s pre-emptive move. When Engadget reached out to them, their response was:
“Apple’s decision that the UK will be one of the first countries in the world to receive new child safety protections on devices is a real win for children and families. Our rules are flexible and designed to encourage innovation, particularly in age assurance. We’ve worked closely with Apple and other services to ensure they can be applied in a variety of contexts in order to ensure users are protected. This will build on the strong foundations of the Online Safety Act, from widespread age checks that keep young people away from harmful content, to blocking high-risk sites and stepping up action against child sexual abuse material.”
If you’re in the UK, you can find more details on the age requirements for managing an Apple Account in the UK here. For non-UK users, you can check out the region-specific rules for child accounts, as it varies across regions. While in Brazil, anyone under 18 has to use a child account, some other regions in Europe require a child account for anyone under 13, 14, 15 or 16. Child accounts have to be a part of a Family Sharing group.
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