Apple rolls out age verification in the UK with iOS 26.4 — right after Meta and Google get fined for not protecting kids

• iOS and iPadOS users in the UK now have to verify their age
• Otherwise certain features may be disabled for under-18s
• Meta and Google have been fined over their child safety policies

It seems we're hitting a point of reckoning when it comes to phone usage for under-18s: Apple is rolling out mandatory age verification for iPhone and iPad users in the UK, just a day after Meta and Google were hit by a massive fine in a landmark social media trial.

Starting with the Apple verification rollout, this is part of the new iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 update for users in the United Kingdom. If you're a UK user, you'll be asked to register a credit card or scan an ID in order to prove you're aged 18 or over — unless Apple has previously confirmed your age.

Apple has full details here, and says the verification process is "required by law in some countries and regions" in regards to "downloading apps, changing certain settings, or taking other actions with your Apple Account". If you need to verify your account, you'll see a message appear on the Settings menu.

While this specific step of age verification at a device level isn't required by UK law as it currently stands, recent legislation does mean it is required for adult websites (including pornography sites). The onus has been on the sites themselves to do the verifying, but there have been calls for checks to be made at the device level too.

With the UK government trialling a curb on social media for under-16s, a law similar to the one implemented in Australia now looks likely. Apple's intentions may be to get ahead of any such decision, and according to the BBC it has been working closely with regulator Ofcom on the new feature.

It's not clear exactly what will happen if you're under 18 and are unable to confirm an adult identity. As per Apple's support document, you may see certain features restricted or be asked to join a Family Sharing group operated by a parent, but the wording suggests it will vary on a case-by-case basis.

Social media addiction

Another reason Apple might have taken this move is the landmark social media lawsuit that just reached a conclusion in Los Angeles: Meta and Google have been ordered to pay out $6m (about £4.5m / AU$8.65m) to a young woman who claimed that Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube severely impacted her mental health.

The woman's lawyers had described the apps developed by Meta and Google as "addiction machines", arguing that the tech companies hadn't done enough to stop younger children accessing these platforms, or to protect them from the harms associated with too much screen time.

In a separate trial in New Mexico that reached a verdict earlier this week, Meta was separately told to pay a $375m (about £281m / AU$541m) fine for misleading users over child safety protections in its apps. Meta had been aware of child predators on its platforms, and hadn't done enough to block them, the jury decided.

Meta and Google both intend to appeal: "Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app," a Meta spokesperson said. "We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as every case is different, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online."

And while Apple's age restrictions have been welcomed by Ofcom and child protection groups, not everyone is happy about it: some see it as another step towards "mass surveillance" and even more user data tracking and logging, while others argue protection responsibilities should lie with parents rather than device makers.

The momentum definitely seems to be in one direction right now, however — and with AI bots another problem that the internet is grappling with, it's likely that more verification checks are going to start appearing in the future.

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