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Apple is bringing a new feature in iOS 26.4 beta that could lock you out of important apps.
Age verification regulations are continuously tightening as authorities clamp down on protecting younger users from harmful content online.
Apple and Meta faced combined fines totalling $798 million after breaking EU competition laws, while Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced a jury after lawyers claimed that social media is deliberately designed to be addictive. More recently, Reddit was fined $18 million by the UK's data watchdog after failing to verify users' ages properly.
Last year, the Online Safety Act introduced age verification measures for pornography websites, as authorities can take action against those who do not comply.
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Aligning with this, the iPhone may soon require UK users to verify their age before accessing certain apps and services as part of the iOS 26.4 developer beta.
According to Apple Insider, the new feature is only rolling out in the UK for now but could soon expand to other countries like Australia which banned social media access for under-16s.
Once the update is installed, users will be required to confirm they are over the age of 18 which Apple can verify through payment methods. While users can delay the verification and 'confirm later,' it's unclear when you would be reminded again, the report noted.
After confirming, the feature can modify device restrictions, granting access to apps containing 18+ content.
The API could potentially extend to websites and other services, meaning iPhone users might have a smoother experience accessing age-restricted content once verified through Apple's system.
However, those that don't verify their age may find themselves unable to download or open certain apps, make purchases or complete in-app transactions, Apple warned.
The tech giant's update isn't part of the Online Safety Act's requirements, but it looks like Apple is taking a proactive approach to the UK's future regulatory demands.
Meanwhile, the US government is exploring similar age-verification measures, so perhaps we'll see the feature roll out in some US states in the future.
Users' reactions to the new measures have been decidedly mixed on Reddit.
"This is very disappointing," one user claimed.
"Okay look, I "own" this device. It already has my license, insurance, and debit/credit cards connected to it," another user argued.
"Any app or website I visit should 100% believe I am an adult. Any further "proof needed" is absolute b*******."
However, , some users view the update more favourably.
"Ok I support this purely because it means there's only one time you need to verify your age and you won't be giving out your id to a bunch of different companies," someone else replied.
