iPhone Update Requires Age Verification, New Rules Now in Effect
Users of iPhones in the United Kingdom are now required to verify their age. Verification is necessary if users wish to access certain features on their devices.
According to HowtoGeek, owners of Apple devices must verify their age when updating the operating system to iOS 18.4. This request is believed to be Apple’s response to the implementation of the Online Safety Act in the United Kingdom, which encompasses England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
One of the main focuses of the Online Safety Act is to prevent children and teenagers from accessing adult content, including through online search services and social media.
Apple appears to be taking a proactive step ahead of these regulations. The Online Safety Act does not mandate that operating systems or app stores conduct age checks.
Users of iPhones or iPads can still update their operating systems to iOS 18.4 without undergoing age verification. However, they will lose access to some features if they skip the age verification. Apple also automatically enables web content filtering and communication safety on the devices.
Users who do not verify their age, for example, cannot disable Safe Search in their Safari browser. Apps in the App Store with an 18+ rating also cannot be downloaded.
The age verification system on iPhones is very straightforward. Users with an Apple account who are 18 years or older are automatically verified. Users with a credit card registered to their Apple account are also immediately verified.
If users are not automatically verified, they can add a credit card to their Apple account or scan proof of identity with a photo, such as a driving licence.
This device-based verification system could serve as an alternative method for platforms and apps to verify age. Platforms or apps employ various techniques to verify age, from biometric data and passports to driving licences through partnerships with third parties.
If verification is done through the device, users also do not have to repeatedly check their age each time they access a website or register to use an app.