On February 6, 2026, Apple officially updated its App Store Review Guidelines to declare that apps primarily facilitating “random or anonymous chat” are no longer welcome on the platform.
This policy shift moves these apps into a high-risk category—alongside pornography, bullying, and physical threats—allowing Apple to remove them from the App Store without prior notice.
1. What is Explicitly Banned?
The updated Section 1.2 (User-Generated Content) now specifies that the following types of experiences do not belong on the App Store:
- Anonymous Messaging: Apps that enable anonymous phone calls, prank calls, or anonymous SMS/MMS messaging face outright rejection.
- Random Pairing: “Chatroulette-style” video or text experiences where users are paired with strangers without verification.
- Objectification Platforms: Apps used primarily for “hot-or-not” style voting or objectifying real people.
- Anonymous Communities: Platforms where the core draw is connecting random users without identity verification, particularly those with a history of enabling bullying or harassment.
2. Why Now? The “Safety vs. Control” Debate
While Apple has not officially explained the timing, industry analysts point to several catalysts:
- Child Safety: Following pressure from regulators in Australia and Europe, Apple is targeting apps that have become havens for the grooming of minors and anonymous cyberbullying.
- The “OmeTV” Precedent: Last year, Apple and Google removed the random-chat app OmeTV after reports from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner highlighted its risks to children. The new 2026 rule codifies this stance.
- Political Implications: Some experts suggest the move is aimed at apps like BitChat, which have been used for anonymous organizing by protesters in countries like Nepal and Iran. By broadening the guidelines, Apple grants itself clearer legal “leeway” to remove such apps.
3. Impact on Existing Apps
This is not a “case-by-case” review process but an enforcement shift:
- No Grace Period: Unlike most guideline updates that allow developers time to fix issues, Apple’s new language states these apps may be removed “without notice.”
- The “Core Function” Rule: Apps that include chat as a secondary feature (like a game or a verified social network) are generally safe. The ban targets apps where random/anonymous connection is the primary purpose.
- Verification is the Key: Apps that implement robust moderation, user verification (linking to a phone number or verified Apple ID), and strict age-gating are more likely to survive the purge.
4. Alternatives for Users
If your favorite anonymous chat tool disappears, the following “pseudonymous” platforms are currently unaffected as they require accounts and verified identifiers:
- Reddit: Requires an account (even if pseudonymous) and has centralized moderation.
- Discord: Requires account verification and operates within private, moderated servers.
- Signal: While allowing “Usernames” to hide phone numbers, it still requires a verified phone number to create an account.
Conclusion: The End of “Stranger Danger” Apps?
Apple’s 2026 policy marks the end of the “wild west” era of anonymous random pairing on iOS. By treating anonymity as a safety liability rather than a feature, Apple is forcing a transition toward verified social circles, effectively signaling that if an app doesn’t know who its users are, Apple doesn’t want it on your iPhone.
