Apple is adjusting its App Store policy to make it more difficult for minors to use online dating apps or to engage with AI partners that involve "sexual or romantic content." The tech giant announced this change in a notice sent to developers on Monday.

The new regulations come after the company made other adjustments to better protect minors, including implementing age verification technology globally and adding more parental control and child safety features.

While most mainstream dating services typically restrict their platforms to adults, Apple's new policy requires that all applications that offer dating or romantic relationship features must be labeled with an 18+ rating. Apple stated that starting from November 16th, developers will be required to include a new description of the content to ensure that the age rating of their applications reflects their actual functions.

The impact of this rule on AI companion applications may be even more noteworthy, especially for those applications that offer such features as just one of many options. Character.AI, Replika, and other AI applications are typically aimed at young users and allow people to create AI companions, including friends, lovers, boyfriends, girlfriends, as well as other fictional characters.

xAI Last year, they also launched 3D animations AI. These companions allow users to unlock NSFW features. As of last summer, the top-ranked AI companion apps on Apple's App Store and Google Play had reached 220 million downloads worldwide.

In addition to "dating and relationships," apps also need to clarify whether their functionality involves sharing users' real-world locations with other individuals or groups. Any app that offers such features inevitably raises significant privacy concerns, especially when users are not aware that their locations are being shared.

Apple stated that in Brazil, applications that provide family location sharing features can apply for an official rating from the Judicial and Public Security Department (MJSP / Minist é rio da Justi ça e Seguran ça Pú blica), without having to be labeled with a A16 rating as required by local laws.