We're updating the age rating of our mobile apps— 17+ on iOS and Mature on Android— and expanding access to new features
Patreon is updating the age rating on our mobile apps from 12+ to 17+ for iOS and from Teen to Mature (or the equivalent age rating in your region) for Android, and we want to let you know what this may mean for you as a creator and for your fans.
As we switch to Apple’s in-app purchasing system for iOS, Patreon needs to move to a 17+ age rating for Patreon’s iOS app in the Apple App Store to continue processing transactions for all creators on the platform, including our Adult/18+ creator community. For a consistent experience across apps, this update is also being applied to Patreon’s Android app in the Google Play store.
To be clear: Patreon’s policies and the types of work that are permitted on Patreon are not changing with this update. All creators and members are required to follow Patreon’s Community Guidelines, Terms of Use, and Benefit Guidelines.
Now let’s get into what this update means for you and your fans.
This change allows Patreon to continue to be a safe, welcoming place for creators and their communities. It aligns Patreon’s mobile apps with existing device-level controls, like parental controls. And, for all of the platforms Patreon is accessible on, you can now access an option in your member account settings to control the types of work you see as a member. This will help ensure that all fans and creators are using Patreon in a safe way.
With this update, we’re expanding access to more features for more creators on Patreon.
This update also enables Patreon to introduce more highly requested features to Adult/18+ creators on mobile, mobile web, and desktop web. In particular:
Search and creator discovery: we’re making improvements to show more creators in search results, including Adult/18+ creators. Rolling out now, fans can confirm their age in their account settings to expand the types of creators they can see in search results.
Membership discounts and gifting: now, all creators on subscription billing can offer membership discounts and give a membership as a gift to anyone that isn’t already a paid member.
By the end of the month, fans of all creators on subscription billing will be able to gift a creator’s membership to their friends who aren’t yet paid members.Selling digital products: we’re also beginning to roll out the ability to sell individual posts, collections, and items from your digital shops to allof our creators on subscription billing. When Patreon’s commerce features were first released last year, eligibility was limited to creators who make work suitable for all audiences. Based on feedback we’ve heard from the community, we’re working hard to safely roll out these features to creators who make Adult/18+ work too.