From December 10, 2025, a new Australian law will require certain social media platforms operating in Australia to prevent people under 16 from having a social media account. Impact developers are responsible for ensuring that they follow the requirements of the new law, including deactivating existing accounts for users under 16 and monitoring new registrations.
Apple offers several tools to help meet the requirements of this law:
The new Declared Age Range API helps developers provide age-appropriate experiences for their users. Developers can choose to request the age range most relevant to their use case, such as an age group of under 16, and change the app’s behavior based on this information.
When making an app available in the App Store, developers must include a description that helps users determine if the app is right for them. Developers can use this app description field to indicate information that cannot be captured in other areas of the product page, such as age restrictions on social media for people under a certain age.
This year, Apple updated the age ratings questionnaire, which is required for all apps. The update includes adding new questions about in-app controls, such as the presence of age verification and parental controls. Apps that use age verification methods – such as the Declared Age Range API – to comply with the law and prevent users under 16 from creating accounts can indicate the presence of this capability on their App Store product page.
With our recent update to age ratings, developers can set a higher age rating than the one generated by their responses to the age rating questionnaire in App Store Connect. Developers can view the age rating for each of their apps and select a higher rating if they wish, in the App Information section of App Store Connect.
Age Appropriate URL
When updating an app’s age rating, developers have the option to include an Age Suitability URL that links to a developer-hosted website with details about the app and its age-related content. When enabled, this URL will appear on the App Store product page under the Age Rating Details section. Developers can use this URL to provide region-specific information and requirements, such as the ban in Australia of people under the age of 16 having a social media account.
Range API
Learn more about updating your app Age rating
Product page