Safety · 2026-11-03

Apple restricts dating apps and AI companions to users 18 and up

Apple is changing App Store rules so that dating apps and AI companions with romantic or sexual content get an 18+ rating, and developers must add new content descriptors starting November 16.

✨ What Apple is changing

Apple is adjusting App Store policies to make it harder for minors to use dating apps and AI companions that offer "sexual or romantic content." The company shared the update with developers on Monday.

All apps with dating or romantic relationship features must now carry an 18+ rating. Starting November 16, developers must include new content descriptors so that age ratings reflect what the app actually offers.

📌 Why this matters for AI companions

AI companion apps will feel the change most. Character.AI, Replika and other apps let people create AI companions, including friends, lovers, boyfriends, girlfriends and other fantasy characters. These apps are often aimed at younger people.

The rules also apply to apps where romantic features are only one of many features. Last year, xAI launched 3D animated AI companions that let users unlock NSFW capabilities. As of last summer, top AI companion apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play had been downloaded 220 million times worldwide.

🔹 Location sharing is also covered

Besides "dating and relationships," apps must also indicate whether they share a user's real-world location with another person or group. The article notes that this raises obvious privacy concerns, especially if the user did not know their location was being shared.

🔸 Exception in Brazil

In Brazil, apps that offer location sharing for families can request an official rating from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) instead of being listed with the A16 rating, which local law requires.

Sources: 🔗 TechCrunch — AI