Apple Introduces Swift Age Verification in iOS 26.4 to Comply with UK Online Safety Act
In response to the UK’s Online Safety Act, Apple has integrated a rapid age verification feature into the iOS 26.4 developer beta, streamlining the process for users to confirm they are 18 or older.
Seamless Age Verification Process
Upon updating to iOS 26.4, UK users will notice a new prompt at the top of the Settings app labeled Confirm You Are 18+. Tapping this leads to a brief explanation:
Confirm you are 18+ to update your restrictions. To change these restrictions, the UK requires you to confirm you are an adult.
Apple may verify adulthood by checking the payment method associated with the user’s Apple Account. A valid credit card can serve as proof, as only adults can open credit card accounts.
Users can choose Continue to proceed or Confirm Later to delay the process. Opting to continue initiates a swift verification, often completed in under two seconds, utilizing Face ID and account information.
Context and Implementation
This feature aligns with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which mandates age verification to protect minors from inappropriate content. Apple’s implementation focuses on ensuring age-appropriate app usage on iPhones, enhancing existing parental controls.
While the age-verification APIs are expected to be available to websites in the future, they are currently limited to app usage.
Comparative Ease of Use
Apple’s approach stands out for its simplicity and speed. Unlike some adult websites that require users to upload photos for AI-based age estimation—a process that can be cumbersome and raise privacy concerns—Apple’s method is integrated seamlessly into the device’s settings.
Challenges and Workarounds
Despite these measures, some users have found ways to bypass age verification on websites, such as using photos of older individuals or employing VPNs to mask their location. Notably, VPN providers like NordVPN and Proton VPN reported significant increases in UK sign-ups following the enactment of the Online Safety Act.
Interestingly, analytics firm Sensor Tower observed that iPhone users were more proactive in downloading VPNs compared to Android users, with a 100% daily increase in iPhone VPN sign-ups shortly after the law’s implementation.
Future Implications
Apple’s age verification feature is set to roll out in the UK with the official release of iOS 26.4. As global regulations evolve, similar requirements may emerge in other regions. For instance, in December 2025, reports indicated that the US government was considering age verification mandates for app stores.
Apple has been proactive in this area, announcing an extensive age assurance plan in February 2025. This initiative aims to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content and protect their personal information from developers under the guise of verification.
In March 2025, Utah became the first US state to require Apple to implement age verification. By April 2025, companies like Meta and Spotify were advocating for Apple to take responsibility for age verification, highlighting the industry’s preference for platform-level solutions.
With the upcoming release of iOS 26.4, Apple is taking significant steps to implement age verification on its platform, ensuring that users’ credit card data remains secure and not shared with multiple third-party entities.
