Apple announced on 2 November that it will add two new content descriptors to App Store Connect from 16 November 2026. The descriptors, Shared Location and Dating and Relationships, require developers to declare whether their app shares a user’s real-world location with others or enables dating, relationships or romantic content with a virtual companion.
Developers must make the declarations when submitting an update or changing their age rating questionnaire. All existing and new apps must have them completed by 12 January 2027. Apps with Dating and Relationships features will receive a minimum age rating of 18+. Shared Location may not affect the minimum rating in some regions.
Brazil has stricter rules
In Brazil, local regulations require an A16 rating for Shared Location and A18 for Dating and Relationships. Developers who believe their app qualifies for a lower rating, for example location sharing designed for parents and children, can request an official rating from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), which will then show on the Brazilian App Store.
Why it matters
In our view, the new descriptors are the latest step in Apple’s push towards age-appropriate access. The company recently updated its App Review Guidelines and detailed a selfie-based adult age-verification system. The 18+ floor for dating apps could reshape the category, particularly for apps that previously targeted younger users.