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Apple rolls out OS-level age verification in latest iOS 26.4 dev beta (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago by freedickpics@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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(Not sure if this is worldwide or only in some countries)

Updating to iOS 26.4DB2 will put your phone into a parental-restricted mode with adult websites blocked on all browsers, warning prompts every time you try to send or receive an explicit image on a messaging app, and all social media apps blocked on the App Store (in Australia)

The settings to disable this mode are locked off until you verify your age either with a credit card, photo ID, or though information Apple already has (like the age of your account).

I've been an apple user my entire adult life but this might finally be the thing that forces me off the platform. Do any other long term apple users have some tips about migrating? I've heard Ashai Linux is pretty good on mac hardware these days and I've been thinking about GrapheneOS for a while.

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[-] kinkles@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 month ago

I’m only on 26.3 and I got an iOS age verification popup today when opening an app for hospital/medical stuff. I was able to just close it and continue but it was surprising.

[-] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 month ago

I would imagine the health app has multiple age groups. Where as an 18+ can probably save and share medical data to doctors or store it in iCloud, it's probably illegal some places for minors to have health data being backed up to Apple's shit.

[-] freedickpics@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

26.3.1 will be the last version without the mandatory verification

[-] awaysaway@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

i accepted this to use a health insurance app. anyway to go back from here?

[-] favoredponcho@lemmy.zip -1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Yeah, same, but if you close it and continue the app will treat you as if you are a child. You need to explicitly share with the app. What’s being shared seems to be just that you’re an adult or not an adult. It’s basically like an OS level “click here to confirm you are 18.” Except the OS knows your birthday.

this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2026

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