Millions of UK iPhone users locked into “child by default” mode in age verification debacle

Apple’s decision last week to roll out age verification in the UK with iOS and iPadOS 26.4 is excluding vast numbers of the UK population who do not own a credit card or drive.

This has led to online complaints that Apple’s classification criteria are, at best, ill-thought-out and narrow, and, at worst, culturally insensitive and ageist.

The UK does not have a national ID scheme, and Apple states in its prompts that passports are not accepted, but provides no explanation for this.

While around 75% of the adult population holds a driving licence, many have let their licences lapse or have not updated to digital ones.

Roughly 65% of the adult population owns a credit card, but many Brits either can’t or won’t sign up for one due to debt or to avoid getting into debt. Debit cards are generally considered widely accepted alternatives across most payment ecosystems.

Sixty-year-olds locked in “child by default” mode

From March 24th, most users who wish to upgrade will be prompted to verify they are over 18. They will be invited to do this by scanning their driver’s license or credit cards.

The only adults excluded from this verification process are those who already have a credit card on file (as they can only be issued to adults) or those who’ve had their Apple account for longer than 18 years.

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This situation has led 60-year-olds to complain that they’ve been locked into child mode.

As one former BBC producer turned “tech equity warrior,” Colin Hughes posted on X: “I’m 60, but since updating to iOS 26.4, I’m struggling to convince Apple I’m over 18. “

Another 33-year-old posted a tweet directly to the British Prime Minster stating they were stuck in child mode because they had neither a driving licence nor a credit card.

Users who had automatic updates enabled, which Apple actively encourages, woke up to the verification prompt with no chance to opt out.

For some, this was the last straw – they are switching to security-hardened open-source operating system GraphenOS.

Many concerns focused on older populations who are more likely not to have a credit card or driving licence, as Alan Nutter posted on X: “One of the biggest issues is for elderly people who are currently being prevented from full access.”

“Many of them (like my Aunt) do not have a credit card, driving license, or National ID, and at the moment, there is no alternative.

Standing her ground, Margaret Wood took to X to make her feelings known. She said "Age 61 this year and no way I’m buying a provisional to prove I’m over 18.”

What it means to be switched to iPhone’s child mode

The update prompt states: "UK law requires you to confirm you are an adult to change content restrictions."

This refers to 2025’s Online Safety Act. However, privacy advocates point out that this does not currently cover implementing age checks at the device level.

Anti-censorship and surveillance Group Reclaim the Net said: “Apple chose to go beyond what the law demands and then told users the law made them do it.”

For those unable to prove their 18+ status upon upgrade, Apple’s Web Content Filter is activated, blocking websites across Safari and every third-party browser.

Communication Safety is activated, which scans images and videos in Messages and FaceTime for nudity. Features that worked fine the day before now require government-approved proof of adulthood.

One fifty-year-old Reddit user said they got around the problem by applying for a virtual credit card in their PayPal app and adding it to their Apple wallet.

The alternative is to disable the iOS 26.4 update manually and stay on an older version, although this may make the phone less safe, as future security patches may not work.

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