Apple is set to introduce new technology that could help enforce Australia’s social media ban on children under 16 using their iPhone apps. The declared age range API will allow developers to request information on the age range of a user with parental consent, indicating whether they are under 18, 16, or 13. This will enable apps to tailor content based on the user’s age or block access entirely. Parents will have control over the declared age and can correct it if necessary.
Apple will update age ratings for apps in the app store to include four categories: 4+, 13+, 16+, and 18+. The highest rating will be for apps with explicit content like gambling, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sexual content, or violence. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok must take reasonable steps to ensure the ages of their users under the upcoming social media ban in December.
Google is also developing a machine learning-based age estimation model to determine if a user is under 18, which will be rolled out to more countries over time. Parental certification and controls are part of the trial currently underway. It will be up to social media platforms to decide whether to adopt Apple’s technology and how to assure the ages of non-Apple users. The ban is set to go into effect in December, pending the communications minister’s decision on the platforms affected and the technology used for age verification.
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