LOS ANGELES—New guidelines for Android developers just released by Google include updated rules on sexual content that are not exactly flesh friendly. With the stated goal of "maintaining a positive experience for everyone using Google Play," the emphasis for developers is on everyone, as in people of all ages, which means anything sexual has to go bye-bye.
Regarding the new policies, Google reminds developers up front, "Our content policies apply to any content your app displays or links to, including any ads it shows to users and any user-generated content it hosts or links to. Further, they apply to any content from your developer account which is publicly displayed in Google Play, including your developer name and the landing page of your listed developer website. In addition to complying with these policies, the content of your app must be rated in accordance with our Content Rating Guidelines."
The Sexually Explicit Material category, listed first, states: "Apps that contain or promote pornography are prohibited; this includes sexually explicit or erotic content, icons, titles, or descriptions. Google has a zero-tolerance policy against child sexual abuse imagery. If we become aware of content with child sexual abuse imagery, we will report it to the appropriate authorities and delete the Google Accounts of those involved with the distribution."
General reaction to these policy enhancements seems to be that they were both inevitable and overdue, but over at Phandroid, Chris Chavez cautions, "The changes (which Google sent to developers via email) may sound small, but should have a big impact on many of the apps you come across on Google Play. Google’s always had a strong stance against sexually explicit material in the Play Store (it’s strictly prohibited), but today Google is stretching their definition to include even 'erotic' content. You know. Like all those 'Sexy Babes Wallpaper' apps that are always topping the free charts. End of the world, right? Guess they’ll have to find a new home in the Amazon Appstore because Google ain’t having it."
The company also announced a new policy that addresses behavior they call "app promotion." Chavez writes, "According to this new policy addition, if you’re a developer and your app shows up in a sketchy ad—no matter if it’s your fault or your ad network’s—your app could find itself removed from Google Play. Harsh? A little bit. But it seems Google’s finally had enough, and they’re now trying to clean up the Play Store’s image of being a safe haven for spam, spyware, or other junk."
That same intent seems to be behind greater attention paid to in-app purchases, surveillance and tracking apps and advertising. Sending a clear message as far as implementation goes, "Google warns that any new apps published to the Play Store after today will be immediately subject to these new policy changes, with apps already on Google Play having 15 days to comply with the update or face removal."
As adult affiliate webmasters well know, Google rarely, if ever, bluffs in these situations.
