Tech companies face a growing challenge: how to protect children online while respecting privacy. With governments worldwide pushing for stricter age-verification laws, Apple has introduced a new age assurance system that aims to strike a balance. The company’s latest move allows parents to share a child’s age range with app developers, without disclosing sensitive personal information.
Is this the right approach? Or is Apple just sidestepping a deeper responsibility?
Officials in Utah, South Carolina, and various U.S. states are debating laws that would require Apple and Google to verify users' ages. The debate boils down to one question: should the responsibility lie with the app store or the developers themselves?
Companies like Meta argue that app stores should take the lead in age verification. Apple, however, is pushing back. The tech giant believes forcing app stores to verify every user’s age would mean collecting sensitive personal data from everyone, not just children.
And that’s a privacy nightmare.
Instead, Apple introduces “Declared Age Range,” a system that lets parents approve sharing an age bracket (e.g., 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, or 18+) with apps. No exact birthdate, no government ID, just a broad age category.
Parental Control: Parents set up a Child Account and select an age range during setup.
Privacy Protection: Apps can request access to the child’s age range via a new Declared Age Range API.
Parental Approval: Parents decide whether to share this information with an app.
Developer Responsibility: Apps must adjust their content accordingly.
This system prevents blanket data collection while giving developers a way to offer age-appropriate experiences. It’s a middle-ground solution that balances safety and privacy.
Apple is also refining its App Store age rating system, shifting from four categories to five:
4+
9+
13+
16+
18+
Apps are now required to reveal more specifics about their content, including whether they include user-generated material or advertisements that might expose children to unsuitable content.
This precise labeling helps ensure apps are sorted more accurately, shielding younger users from material intended for older audiences.
While Apple sees this as a privacy-first solution, companies like Meta aren’t fully on board. Meta argues that Apple’s method still puts the burden on children to approve sharing their age range, something that could lead to gaps in enforcement.
Many lawmakers and regulators favor stricter age checks at the app store level, seeing Apple’s approach as passing responsibility onto developers.
However, Apple’s stance is clear: “We don’t ask every mall visitor for their age, only the ones buying alcohol. Why should app stores work any differently?”
Apple’s age assurance update is a move in the right direction. Privacy takes center stage, and that matters. Yet, it’s not flawless. The system leans on parents and developers to enforce compliance, leaving room for gaps.
With governments pushing for more regulation, this debate is far from over. The question remains: should Apple take more responsibility, or should age verification stay in the hands of app developers?
Either way, this move sets the stage for tighter digital safety standards, and the entire tech industry is watching closely.