iPhone now lets you prove you're an adult with a selfie

Apple's iOS 27.2 update is out, and it adds a new way to prove you're an adult: take a selfie. Until now, the iPhone offered other methods, such as using a credit card or scanning an ID. The selfie is a third choice, though it will not show up for everyone.

What changed

A growing number of places require age checks on iPhones. These can come up when you create an Apple Account, update your software, download apps or change certain settings. Apple says the rules may apply to users in Australia, Brazil, Singapore, South Korea, the UK and Texas.

With the selfie option, an age-estimation model looks at images of your face and judges whether you are an adult. Apple says the option is not available in all regions. If you are asked to confirm your age, you might see it on screen.

What about privacy

Apple says the age-estimation models run on the phone and on Private Cloud Compute, its own cloud system. The company says the selfie is not accessible to anyone, not even Apple. It also says the photo is deleted right after your age is confirmed and is not kept in any form.

What is not clear yet

The source does not say which regions get the selfie option. It also does not say how accurate the age estimate is, or what happens if the model cannot tell. Apple has published a support document that explains the steps.