Apple has begun blocking downloads of 18+ apps from the App Store

Apple has started restricting the installation of apps rated “18+” if users have not verified their details, according to 9to5Mac.

The company has already updated its App Store rules and introduced new verification tools. The store now relies on an automated estimation system that determines a user’s approximate age by analyzing digital behavior on the iPhone.

Because the algorithms can make mistakes, Apple has shifted part of the responsibility to developers. App makers have been given access to the “Declared Age Range” API to help confirm users’ ages more accurately.

The new restrictions are already in force in Australia, Brazil, and South Africa, as well as in the U.S. states of Utah and Louisiana.

In these regions, local laws require stricter user verification to better shield minors from sensitive content.

Apple also highlighted special conditions for the Brazilian market: any games featuring loot boxes or casino-style mechanics now automatically receive a strict 18+ rating.

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