How does it check? Edit: nvm I looked it up. Enter a credit card or scan an ID.
this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2026
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Privacy
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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.
Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.
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The problem is also that if companies like Apple (which a lot of people trust) start normalising this behaviour it will only encourage people to start scanning their passports/driving licences on every bloody site!
I stopped trusting Apple when Tim Cook stuck his whole head into Trumps behind and swallowed everything he encountered in the passageway. Switched to Linux and Graphene OS and ditched all my Apple Hardware after 20+ years.
similar for me. Bought my first Mac in 2008. Died in 2011. Bought a cheap Windows laptop and lasted a few months befpre i wanted to smash it. Decided to try Ubuntu 12.04 and been on Linux since. GrapheneOS since 2024!
I want to do this but I don’t think I can convince my wife to switch back to Android. Any other Apple stuff I own is the last I buy though. From now on, it’s Linux and possibly a Framework laptop in the future, but I’m open minded.
Well, I’m no fan of this and will loudly object if it occurs in my jurisdiction. We all know this isn’t about safety, but tracking. But it also seems perhaps inevitable everywhere…
If it is inevitable, I can kinda stomach the OS (and only the OS) inferring I’m an adult, provided it can pass along that verification to sites.
What's the consequence of not doing it.
I only use apple as provided by work, personal life Android and Linux
Someone posted on Reddit today (I know, I know) that they couldn't go to any adult content (I assume he meant porn) sites at all, it was returning an error. As soon as he verified (he used a credit card) he could operate as normal.
It’s not entirely clear I think it’ll limit somethings you can do that should be for “adults” only. Basically from what I can gather it’ll age restrict some stuff that it thinks kids shouldn’t use / change themself.
But first thing it says is that it needs to be done to comply with UK law and you can only click “continue” or “maybe later” no option to actually deny it
No option to deny but ignorance is bliss 😝
Apparently it’ll just use the info and bank card saved on the account
So long as it's a credit card, I only have Debit. Nov my account is 18 years old anyway so hopefully nothing will get blocked before then.
Ok so looks like move of device for me. Apple iphone is my last bastion of big tech and I held off as I didn’t want to swap hardware. I’m not super clued on my options but I have been looking at sailfish or graphine.
I won’t be buying a brand new device I’ll purchase a used one second hand. I’m not fussy with which hardware. I am happy to use the browser, i need an average camera, and i like a map /music in the car
I do like Linux but don’t want an ongoing subscription for sailfish. What option or combination is good?
Used pixel + GrapheneOS. Takes some getting used to, but most stuff works as expected. The default apps aren't pretty, but ithe Fossify alternatives are a little nicer.
You're leaving a whole ecosystem meant to work seamlessly without having to understand how it works, so be prepared for that...
Can you get android auto on a google-free phone?
I haven't tried it myself, but yeah woes in the street is that it works if you enable enough permissions on play services and whatnot.
It is on the GrapheneOS app store yes. Not sure about other ROMs
I used to be mac in the 90s onwards so problem solving aint too bad. Moved to linux last year. I am done with ecosystem that are designed to be used against me.
Pixel + GrapheneOS is what I was eyeing up, i was just unsure how cosy graphene is with google, I don't want to have to use google store.
I will have already been changing habits, its getting relegated to a true phone...hopefully with some stronger security VPN controls. If the services around me want to make it hard I will go back to the dark ages. I no longer use social media and everything else can be done on a browser/laptop where I have a higher level of control of my privacy.
No Google required! :-)
Though you can enable / install a sandboxed Google play services and mirrored app store, and starve them of permissions except for what/when you absolutely require.
GrapheneOS lets you add "profiles" -- essentially separate user accounts, and switch between them. Many folks put any Google stuff on a separate profile and otherwise stay on the surveillance free side.
You'll want to install Obtainium and probably f-froid, to find all the open source apps you're after.