App Store will add age-rating descriptors for location sharing and dating

What Apple announced

On November 2, 2026, Apple announced two additions to the App Store age-rating questionnaire: Shared Location and Dating and Relationships. The change starts on November 16. Developers must update the answers for all their apps by January 12, 2027.

Different features have different implications

Dating and Relationships covers romantic or sexual relationships with people or virtual companions and carries a minimum rating of 18+. Shared Location does not necessarily change the minimum age in every region. The Brazilian rules cited by Apple apply to that market, rather than defining a universal rating.

What users can look for

An age rating is a starting point for deciding whether an app suits the person who will use it. It does not replace reading the description or checking the available features. When comparing two apps, look for concrete information about what they let users do, rather than deciding on the name or cover image alone.

In a family conversation, it may be more useful to ask what someone wants to use the app for and whom they expect to interact with. That discussion focuses attention on the intended use without assuming that every tool in the same category works alike.

Keep the dates separate, too: this article explains an announcement and an upcoming change. It does not claim that every listing already displays the new descriptors. If you manage an app, review the original notice and your App Store Connect questionnaire before the deadline; do not copy another app’s answers.