Have you ever downloaded an app for your kid, only to find out later that it shares their location or has dating features tucked inside? Apple wants to fix that. The company has announced new content descriptors for App Store Connect that will make age ratings more accurate and in line with local laws.
What are the new age rating labels?
Starting November 16, 2026, developers will have to answer two new questions in the age rating questionnaire. The first asks whether the app offers Shared Location, meaning it shares your real-world location with another person or group.
The second asks about Dating and Relationships, which covers apps that connect real people romantically, as well as virtual companions that engage users in romantic or sexual content. It also includes the AI companion apps.
Developers must answer these questions whenever they submit an app update or edit their age rating questionnaire, and every app needs them completed by January 12, 2027.
How will this change what you see on the App Store?
Any app with Dating and Relationships features will get a minimum age rating of 18+. Shared Location is more relaxed, and in some regions, it may not change an app’s minimum age rating at all.
Brazil is a different story. Local regulations there require an A16 rating for Shared Location and an A18 rating for Dating and Relationships. If developers believe their app deserves a lower rating, like a location sharing app made for parents and kids, they can request an official rating from Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
For parents, this is a welcome change. The next time you check an app’s age rating, it should tell you a lot more about what the app actually does.
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