Apple has introduced new age verification measures for British iPhone users, intended to prevent children from accessing explicit content online.
Account holders in the UK must prove they are over 18 to access certain apps, websites, and services. Verification can be done by uploading a government-issued ID or providing credit card details, while debit cards and passports cannot be used. Users who refuse verification will face automatic child-level restrictions on web browsing and messaging.
The move aligns with stricter rules under the UK’s Online Safety Act, which already requires age checks for social media platforms and adult websites. Apple will also implement content filters in messaging and FaceTime, blurring nudity to protect younger users. VPNs have reportedly failed to bypass the new restrictions.
A representative of regulator Ofcom said these measures “build on the strong foundations of the Online Safety Act” and aim to shield children from harmful content.
Earlier this month, British lawmakers have rejected a proposal to introduce a nationwide ban on social media use for children under the age of 16. Proposed nationwide restrictions, modelled on Australia’s approach, failed to pass in the House of Commons after Labour abstained from the vote.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Early Education Olivia Bailey warned that an outright ban could push teenagers toward “less regulated corners of the internet” and leave them unprepared to navigate digital platforms responsibly.
