Apple is planning to launch a new technology that can help enforce Australia's social media ban for those under 16. This involves an age range API on iOS that can be used by developers to request information about a child user's age range, with the consent of their parents. The process will then help Apple determine whether a user is below 18, 16, or 13 and decide on the type of content they can access on the app or if access should be blocked entirely. This empowers parents to control the declared age of their child and rectify any inaccuracies in their date of birth.

Apple also plans to change app age ratings from the current two ratings: 12+ and 17+ to four: 4+, 13+, 16+, and 18+. The highest rating would regulate apps with sensitive content like gambling, alcohol or drug references, sexual content, nudity, or realistic violence.

Under the Australian government's new social media ban to be enacted in December, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat will be required to verify the ages of users. While Apple's new model only checks a user’s age, it will be up to the government to decide if this is a sufficient measure to keep under-16s off these platforms.

Google also intends to test a new age estimation model in the US using machine learning to detect if users are below or above 18. Parental certification and controls will play a part in this trial, with findings to be presented to the government in April. Ultimately, the ban's effectiveness will rely on the decisions of which platforms it applies to and the technology used for user age assurance.

- CyberBeat