Observed Signal · Dec 8, 2025 · Policy Update · Source: Apple Developer News · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Australia Enforces Age Restrictions for Social Media Apps
Beginning December 10, 2025, a new Australian law will require certain social media platforms operating in Australia to prevent people under 16 from having a social media account, including deactivating existing accounts and monitoring new signups. Apple published guidance and tools to help developers comply: a Declared Age Range API to request user age ranges and tailor experiences; App Store product page fields (app description, Age Suitability URL) to indicate age restrictions and region-specific requirements; updated age ratings questionnaire that now includes questions about in-app controls such as age assurance and parental controls; and the option for developers to select a higher minimum age rating in App Store Connect. The guidance is intended to help developers implement age assurance and communicate compliance on the App Store.
This is a policy update from a major platform (Apple) providing tools and App Store changes to comply with an Australian law that limits under-16 accounts; it affects developer compliance, user access and age-targeted functionality—with implications for advertising, user counts, and product design in Australia.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- An Australian law effective December 10, 2025 requires certain social media platforms operating in Australia to prevent people under 16 from having social media accounts, including deactivating existing accounts and monitoring new signups.
- Apple introduced the Declared Age Range API to let developers request a user's age range (for example, under 16) and modify app behavior accordingly.
- Apple updated App Store metadata and tooling: developers must include app descriptions indicating age-appropriateness, can show presence of in-app age assurance/parental controls, and may set a higher minimum age rating in App Store Connect.
- Developers can include an Age Suitability URL on the App Store product page to provide region-specific age information and requirements (for example, Australia’s prohibition on under-16 social media accounts).
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Australia's Social Media Age Ban: Early Insights After 100 Days
Australia enacted a law (effective December 10) banning under-16s from creating accounts on many social platforms as an extension of the Online Safety Act, called the "Social Media Minimum Age." The eSafety regulator commissioned the Stanford Social Media Lab to run a two-to-five year scientific evaluation with a dozen universities, combining a longitudinal survey of 4,000+ children and parents, passive smartphone usage tracking, interviews, and administrative data. After roughly 100 days, Stanford researchers report early patterns: younger children (10–12) generally accept the change, while 14–15-year-olds report anger and a sense of being deplatformed; adherence is imperfect with some youths returning via new accounts. Early observed substitution behaviors include migration toward gaming chats and AI chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT, Grok). The study will track intended and unintended consequences to inform possible law adjustments.
Apple Launches Global Age Verification for Child Safety Compliance
Apple is rolling out a set of age-verification and “age assurance” tools worldwide to help developers comply with expanding child-safety laws. The company has made a Declared Age Range API available for beta testing that lets developers obtain a user’s age category without accessing personal data like date of birth. Starting immediately, Apple will block downloads of apps rated 18+ in Brazil, Australia, and Singapore until users confirm they are adults; developers may still have separate compliance obligations. In the U.S., Apple will share age-category signals with apps in Utah and Louisiana via the Declared Age Range API. In Brazil, games with loot boxes will be re-rated as 18+. Apple said the API provides new signals indicating whether regulatory requirements apply and whether parental permission is required for certain updates. Apple previously paused some Texas-focused plans while the law faces legal challenges.
Apple Enhances Age Verification for Global App Downloads
Apple announced updates and beta availability for the Declared Age Range API and related tools to help developers meet age-assurance obligations under new regional and U.S. state laws. Beginning February 24, 2026, Apple will block downloads of apps rated 18+ in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore unless the user is confirmed as an adult; the App Store will perform automatic confirmation but developers may still have independent obligations. For Brazil, the API will return age categories if the user or parent/guardian agrees and will indicate the method of age assurance; apps flagged as containing loot boxes will be rated 18+ on the Brazil storefront. For new Apple Accounts in Utah (from May 6, 2026) and Louisiana (from July 1, 2026), age categories can be shared via the Declared Age Range API. Apple also expanded tooling (Declared Age Range API signals, PermissionKit Significant Change API, new StoreKit age-rating property, App Store Server Notifications, Significant Update Action) now available in beta.
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