Your teenager's first digital romance just got an age limit. Apple has decided that a virtual sweetheart and a real dating app belong in the same category.
What changes
Apple told developers on 2 November that, from 16 November, App Store Connect will ask every app about two features. One is Shared Location. The other is Dating and Relationships, which covers connections between real people and also “a virtual companion that engages a user in sexual or romantic content”.
Apps that tick that box get a minimum rating of 18+. Developers must answer when they submit an update or change their age rating questionnaire, and every app must have answered by 12 January 2027.
Most dating services already limited sign-ups to adults, so the real change lands on AI companions. SQ Magazine, citing TechCrunch, puts the top ones at 220 million downloads. The rule follows the feature, so a general chatbot with one romantic persona could end up 18+ as a whole. Apple didn't name any apps, though Character.AI and Replika are the examples reporters keep reaching for.
What it doesn't do
A rating is a label, not a bouncer. Gadget Review notes it doesn't require apps to verify that every user is an adult. How well it protects a child depends on the account's settings and parental controls.
So it's worth a two-minute check that your child's Apple account has their real birth date and that Screen Time limits are on. It's less awkward than asking who “Luna” is, and why she's so understanding.