Jakarta, INTI - Apple Inc. is implementing age verification requirements for users in the United Kingdom, requiring customers to confirm they are at least 18 years old to access certain features.
Apple will verify users' ages through their registered credit card or payment method, or by asking users to scan their ID, according to a post on its support page.
Apple said that content filters will be automatically activated for underage users or anyone who has not verified their age. Children under 13 years old will not be able to create accounts without parental supervision.
Ofcom Welcomes Apple’s Decision
Ofcom, the UK's regulator for the communications services, said in a statement that this age verification will support the Online Safety Act and help “keep young people away from harmful content.”
The regulations are an effort to combat digital harassment, fraud, and harmful content, and include measures to protect children from exposure to harmful posts related to topics such as suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders.
While the regulations do not require app stores to monitor users' ages, Ofcom has been researching how children use online accounts.
Age checks are part of a broader discussion about the impact of social media on teens and children, prompting governments around the world to explore bans and restrictions on these platforms for underage users.
Australia enacted a ban in December, requiring Instagram, Facebook, Snap Inc., Elon Musk's X, TikTok, and Google's YouTube to restrict minors from accessing their platforms.
Apple and other app store owners have generally denied responsibility for age verification. In the US, lobbyists for Apple and Google argue that such verification risks violating children's privacy and argue that individual apps are better able to check users' ages.
Conclusion
Apple Inc.'s age verification policy in the UK reflects growing global pressure to protect children from harmful content in the digital world, in line with regulations like the Online Safety Act. By requiring age confirmation through payment or identity methods, Apple is seeking to improve the safety of young users. Apple’s decision is welcomed by Ofcom.
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