Apple iOS now requires age verification to access websites it deems 18+. Not even using another browser like Firefox works, it’s blocked at the OS level.
I was putting off switching to Graphene or e/os until prices improve, but looks like my hand is forced.
Edit: VPN doesn’t even work because Apple knows your GPS location. I haven’t tried location spoofing yet because that’s a bit more annoying to setup.
FYI, there are no alternative browsers on iOS. Every single one is Safari with a skin, even Firefox. This is also a requirement by Apple, and one of the many reasons why I’ll never own an iPhone. It’s my device; I should be allowed to use any browser I want, install anything I want.
What the fuck? How is that legal.
It’s not…in the EU. So they lift the restriction there and there only. It’s clearly not a technical limitation, just greed.
Agreed to it in the EULA (most likely)
Yep, thats one reason why i went to e/OS. Never went back.
e/os here. A few months in on a Fairphone. Very happy so far
Im using it on the Teracube 2s (2025). Kinda laggy phone but very decent.
How does that work? Do you have any links with more information?
I use Orion browser on an iPhone. I’m not sure what to search to find info about how this all works on that browser. All my searches are returning are sites that compare features between the two. I’m not a tech person (unless you ask non-Millennials), and this is the first time I’ve heard that every iOS browser is actually Safari in disguise. I need to know more!
due to Apple’s platform rules, every browser that runs on iOS is WebKit-based, so there are few opportunities for competitive differentiation outside of interface elements.
“Even in the EU and Japan, where Apple is now required to allow browser vendors to use their own engines, the barriers it has put in place ensure browser vendors are prevented from porting their own engines to iOS. Given that Apple has now had more than two years to produce a compliant solution, the European Commission needs to open a specification proceeding to instruct Apple, in precise terms, how these barriers must be removed.”
While I still don’t fully understand what it means by “engines,” that certainly explains why it takes fucking forever for webpages to load on my phone.
Thank you for providing more info!
This has actually not been the case, in most regions, since iOS 17.4. Chrome and Firefox now use Blink and Gecko, respectively. There are exceptions where WebKit is still to only engine including the EU.
You sure about that?
Then why is Firefox on my girlfriend’s iPhone 15 Plus very obviously Safari?
deleted by creator
How have we allowed this. Theres no going back ever. Welcome to dystopia.
That’s why people need to be against censorship, in principle. If people’s only objection is that it ‘isn’t implemented correctly’, people will just try and they again to implement it “correctly”. We need to squash it down from the start.
Censorship just hurts marginalised youth, especially trans youth since HRT is so age sensitive. And you cannot trust parents to safeguard their kids, no, just because you gave birth to someone does not mean you know what’s best for them, crazy ik
Thank Australia first. Apple is just complying with their rules at this point. Not that they mind imo, but still, it comes from the government overreach.
Edit: Reading some other comments that I might be wrong about the laws. Still something to bring to your lawmakers as an issue needing addressed. Apple effectively telling the Australian people what they can and cannot see.
Though it does look like it might stem from the social media restrictions put in place.
Australian restrictions for social media and pornography do not require OS level enforcement, it applies to the sites to restrict access. OS level enforcement has come from several US state legislation and EU/UK push. Google/ Android will likely be rolling it out soon (this is part of Google enforcing stricter app store developer requirements) and technically Windows and Mac should be pushing it at the desktop level.
Ewwww, do not like that! But also even if it doesn’t originate here, Australia is the test bed for this junk to see if it flys with the people. So far most of us have just laid down in front of the steam roller for “SECURITY!!!”!!"
I got this same page when trying to connect to a WiFi hotspot (In the UK). Now I’m planning a migration plan for the family away from iOS.
Most people won’t care but for me this is where it crosses a line.
Yeah… this is the first time I’ve felt like someone reached into my device and said “no, fuck you.” No tricks or traps work, because it’s operating system level bullshit.
The thing I paid like $1600AUD for a few years ago is no longer my property; the terms have been changed retroactively. It makes me quite angry, actually.
It never was your property. Which is why I don’t use devices with proprietary OS.
Real question is, who in their right mind uses anything from Apple?
Can confirm. That mind ain’t right
Blame your own country for making it the law?
This ain’t an Apple thing. It’s an Australia thing.
I don’t think this is a law. Android and Windows don’t do this for example
I had this pop up personally, thankfully my Apple account itself is old enough to vote - so that was the extent of the age verification.
Still doesn’t bode well for younger generations though.
Those AI thumbnails are as offensive as fuck, I’m gonna block that shit on all my devices
Maybe Apple was protecting me all along lol - this site isn’t safe even for adults
Looks like Australia might be doing OP a favor in this case.
Never have I ever paid my eyes upon a website so catered to boomers.
Why you need to be over 18 for for that site? It’s comedy and not pornography.
Did they also ban news websites or is that brainwashing allowed?
Try searching on startpage.com and from there click on visit in anonymous view …
I was trying to research a meme I saw recently here on Lemmy. Someone posted a photo of ramen called “soup for sluts”. I wanted to see if it was real, or A.I. generated like some commenters suggested.
Yeah the search result is just a comedy website making fun of the ramen. That’s why I’m especially offended. My guess is that Apple simply detected the keywords in the title as pornography, rather than doing anything intelligent. I’d estimate that any website with the title containing naughty words would be blocked!
Good idea with the startpage thing, though. It actually works! It’s a bit glitchy though; I was able to read for 10 seconds at a time before the website crashes. Better than nothing, though. Thanks!
My guess is that Apple simply detected the keywords in the title as pornography, rather than doing anything intelligent. I’d estimate that any website with the title containing naughty words would be blocked!
By including naughty words in the titles of a bunch of important web pages, we could show them the stupidity of that move.
deleted by creator
Toss that shit out the window!
I wanted to rewatch a theater play filmed in the 80’s on YouTube. This time it ask for my birth date to confirm I’m an adult. I clicked the button wondering which birth date I could have used on this account then it crashed. Tried thrice more, crashed each time.
We living in a decade where the quality of internet service decreased in a obvious way. At the same time, we should have more restriction and start paying for it. Big tech should at least be consistent.
For gOS just get a pixel second hand. Orthe new motorla rip off.
The new pixel is a downgrade from the 10. 7 and upare perfectly modern and capable for what anyone wans that isnt an AI tech brat.
I was looking at the 8 tbh
Ideal
That’s… crazy. Though, they do this with discord too on iOS.
Is it possible to circumvent it with VPN?
VPN with custom DNS didn’t work. Firefox didn’t work either. It was an OS level A.I. block or something.
GPS spoofing might work, but I can’t be bothered trying right now
Also a little bit annoying to setup but, what about an ssh tunnel using a SOCKS proxy? Although, I don’t know if it’s possible to do it on iOS, I’ve done it on macOS to bypass my university’s blocked websites
How about a different web browser?
gemini:// and gopher:// browsers work I suppose… but they’re not really typical web browsers haha. I tried a bunch but they are all blocked. Brave, Vivaldi, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, DDG. Nothing would let it through. Firefox said an interesting error message though.
The URL was blocked by a content filter: WebKitErrorDomain
On ios there are no “diferente browsers”. They are safari in a trenchcoat, because apple doesn’t allow other browser engines.
Looks like I will continue not updating my iphone. They can’t do this without a software update, right?
Yeah for me it happened after I updated
:/not sure how long you can delay it thoughWhat version did it start?
iOS 27.0.1
iOS 27 introduces the next generation of Apple Intelligence and Siri Al, as well as new features to help parents create safe digital experiences for kids, and improvements that make iOS more responsive and delightful to use.
Didn’t read patch notes, my bad I guess
Ya. That’s why I’m still on 18. I consider any instance of LLM’s embedded into an OS to be malware.
Laughs on vpns
VPNs don’t work, the block works by GPS coordinates
why can you not spoof your GPS then?
you can on Android.
I’m not sure how that would work on an iPhone but I’m sure it’s possible with a bit of technical know-how.
