Apple is set to introduce a declared age range API for its iPhone and iPad devices, allowing developers to determine the age range of child users with parental consent. This technology could help enforce Australia’s social media ban for under-16s, which requires platforms like TikTok and Instagram to verify the ages of their users. The API will allow apps to adjust content based on a user’s age, with parents able to control and correct the declared age of a child on the device. Apple will also update the age ratings for apps in its app store to four categories, from 4+ to 18+, with the highest rating for apps containing mature content.
While platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok will need to decide whether to adopt Apple’s age verification technology, Google has also announced plans for a similar age estimation model. The social media ban in Australia is set to go into effect in December, with the onus on app makers to keep under-16s off their platforms.
The government will assess the “reasonable steps” taken by social media companies to verify user ages objectively, taking into account efficacy, costs, and privacy implications. The age assurance technology trial, which includes parental certification and controls, will provide a preliminary report to the government in April. This technology is seen as a critical step in enforcing the social media ban and protecting children online.
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