“Apple” re -design the ages classification system in the application store
Apple has announced a wide update of the age rating system in the application store, as it added three new categories: “+13, +16, and +18”, to join the current classifications, which are “+4 and +9”.
This step aims to enhance parental control tools and protect younger users from inappropriate content, coinciding with the launch of “iOS 26” and other operating systems updates next fall.
More accurate age rankings
Previously, Apple was based on only two categories for teenagers: +12 and +17. Now the classifications have become more specific, as follows:
+4: Convenient content for all children.
+9: Fantasy violence, simple cartoon, or limited mature topics.
«+13, +16 and +18»: It reflects rising levels of maturity that include intense violence, medical or psychological topics, or content that users use.
“Apple” has supported this update by improving the classification questionnaire within the “App Store Connect”, so that developers are now required to provide detailed information on control mechanisms within applications, medical content, violent topics, advertisements, and the content created by users. This questionnaire helps to classify applications more accurately, with the ability to manually modify the classification by the developer if necessary.
Automatic update and regional adaptation
Apple automatically reclassified the current applications based on the answers of the previous developers to the questionnaire. Developers can review and modify these classifications before publishing them. Categories are also modified in line with the standards of different regions around the world. Under the new system, applications that exceed the age of the device will not be displayed in the main display sections such as “Today” or “Games”, which ensures a safe browsing experience for children.
Expanding children’s safety tools
This update comes within the continuous efforts of “Apple” to enhance the safety of children on the platform, after announcing it earlier about new tools, including: facilitating the creation of children’s accounts, allowing the participation of the age group with some applications with the approval of the parents, and liquidating the inappropriate content based on age. Parents will be able to control their children’s contacts, and activate tools such as “Permissionkit” that allow the management of parental approvals within the applications. Apple also added protection tools for teenagers; Such as: disturbing sensitive images in messages, and filtering the “FaceTime” content.
Privacy and parental approval
Instead of using ways to verify an age that depends on sensitive personal data, Apple adopted a model based on the permission of the two parents, as parents agree to share the age group (not the date of birth) with the applications it requires, through a new “API” interface. This approach balances the concerns of privacy defenders who reject laws that achieve ages, and the demands of child protection groups calling for more severe control. Apple has already opposed draft laws in American states such as Utah and Texas, which has been threatening the privacy of users.
The timeline and the requirements of the developers
In front of the developers until the end of January 2026 to update the classification questionnaires via “App Store Connect”. After completing the update, the new categories will be shown on the application page, which reflects the content with more accurately.
These updates have already started in experimental copies of the “iOS 26” systems, “iPados 26”, “MacOS Tahoe 26”, “VisionOS 26” and “Watchos 26”, provided that the full offering is made with the launch of “iPhone 17” in September.
What is the importance of that?
“Apple” from this update aims to give the people more transparency and control, while the developers get clearer instructions for the design of a suitable content for age. This will also motivate the developers to include self -control tools to ensure their applications are compatible with the target group.
With the escalation of legislative pressures on technology companies to verify the ages of minor users, Apple places itself in a balanced location through an accurate classification system and advanced parental tools without compromising data privacy.
The new age classification system is a pivotal step towards a safer digital environment for children and adolescents. With the development of global legislation in this field, the new Apple tools may become a role model in how to achieve protection and privacy together.
