Apple yesterday released iOS 26.4, with the company highlighting 13 new features and enhancements. The software update added functionality to Apple Music, made accessibility improvements, and introduced a number of other worthwhile enhancements.
There was one change the company didn’t mention, and that was the introduction of age verification for UK users. This was accidentally launched in a previous beta but is now official …
Britain’s Online Safety Act
The UK’s Online Safety Act requires tech giants to verify that users are adults before giving unrestricted access to all available content. Since some apps in the App Store are designed for those 18+, Apple is required to carry out age verification in order to provide unrestricted access.
Those of us on the developer beta track last month got a preview of the new age verification process in iOS 26.4 Beta 2. The company later said that this was an error and that it shouldn’t have been included in the beta at the time.
However, it has now gone live and regulator Ofcom has welcomed it.
Ofcom praises Apple’s age verification
Ofcom, short for the Office of Communications, is the regulator tasked with overseeing TV, radio, internet, phone, and mobile services. Its responsibilities include oversight of all online services, apps among them.
The regulator told Engadget that it welcomed Apple’s launch of age verification within the UK.
“Apple’s decision that the UK will be one of the first countries in the world to receive new child safety protections on devices is a real win for children and families,” the regulator said. “Our rules are flexible and designed to encourage innovation, particularly in age assurance. We’ve worked closely with Apple and other services to ensure they can be applied in a variety of contexts in order to ensure users are protected. This will build on the strong foundations of the Online Safety Act, from widespread age checks that keep young people away from harmful content, to blocking high-risk sites and stepping up action against child sexual abuse material.”
I found the process quick and easy
Apple says that it may be able to determine the age of UK users automatically, and that was indeed the case for me. You can see a run-through of the process here with the company telling me that it knew I was an adult thanks to having had an Apple account since the Bronze age.
All Set. The length of time you have had an Apple account was used to confirm you are 18+.
If you’re in the UK and have seen a different signal used to confirm your age, please share details in the comments.
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