Apple introduces age verification for iPhones in the UK to restrict minors from 18+ apps and content

Apple is rolling out age verification to UK iPhone users, requiring adults to confirm their age to access apps rated 18 and older, with those who decline facing limits on web browsing and “communication safety” checks on messages and FaceTime calls designed to flag nude photos and videos. The UK is believed to be the first European market where Apple is introducing these controls, which come amid government pressure on smartphone makers to better protect younger users following the Online Safety Act, though app stores are not directly covered by that legislation. UK media regulator Ofcom praised the move as “a real win for children and families,” as the rollout coincides with Prime Minister Keir Starmer's pledge to extend child safety enforcement to AI chatbots and close loopholes across all online platforms.