Teens could lose AI girlfriends as Apple rates all virtual companions 18+ on App Store
New rules will be imposed in less than two weeks.
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- Apple will rate AI companion apps as 18+ if they support romantic or sexual relationships.
- Developers must declare romantic or sexual content when submitting or updating App Store apps.
- The rules affect services such as Character.AI and Replika that let users build relationships with AI avatars.
- Apple’s move follows concerns about data leaks, harmful chatbot behavior, and risks to vulnerable users.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Apple’s new rules are forcing developers to classify their AI companion apps as 18+, or they won’t be allowed to distribute them on the App Store.
AI companion apps will now be classified as dating apps under Apple’s new App Store rules.
Any app that allows users to engage in romantic or sexual relationships with real people or virtual companions will now be deemed a dating app and automatically receive an 18+ rating.
This includes platforms and apps, such as Character.AI and Replika, that are specifically designed to interact with and build relationships with AI avatars.
When submitting their app to Apple, developers must declare whether it contains content related to romantic or sexual relationships.
Devs will need to provide declarations when submitting new apps and editing pre-existing apps already on the App Store.
While the new rules will be enforced from November 16th, 2026, developers have until January 12th, 2027, to update their declarations.
Apple’s response to AI dangers
Apple may have introduced stricter restrictions on the use of AI companions due to controversy over artificial romantic partners.
Not only are many of these AI companion apps insecure, leading to massive data leaks and the exposure of intimate data, but they may also be putting young people at risk.
AI companions have been observed exhibiting dozens of harmful behaviors, ranging from harassment to verbal abuse, researchers at the University of Singapore discovered last year.
Alongside abuse, AI has been known to exacerbate poor mental health among vulnerable users by bolstering delusions and even encouraging them to take their own lives.
OpenAI has been the subject of numerous lawsuits filed by families who have accused it of negligence.
One case involved a now-defunct model encouraging a user to taper off her life-saving medication without a doctor's approval.
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