Apple updated the App Store Connect age rating questionnaire to identify apps with social media capabilities. This change supports the upcoming Time Allowances feature launching with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. Apple defines these capabilities as the ability to redistribute, amplify, or interact with user-generated content via social feeds or discovery methods.

Apps identified as social media will receive a minimum age rating of 13+ and a new content descriptor on their product pages. Developers who disable these features for users under 13 avoid the social media category for that age group. These labels override the general app category selected by the developer.

Developers must answer these questions by September 2026 to submit new apps, updates, or notarizations for alternative distribution. This shift forces developers to be transparent about social networking elements, giving parents more granular control over screen time. This move signals a stricter approach to child safety that removes developer discretion regarding age ratings for social apps.