Google has announced it now has an expert team of human moderators to review new app submissions for approval.
Previously, new apps submitted to Google Play store didn’t require any approval by the search giant and were only reviewed when reported for violating any of the policies. But now each and every app will first be scrutinized by Google reviewers for policy violations prior to publication. The new measures have been in effect for several months, Google said.
“We value the rapid innovation and iteration that is unique to Google Play, and will continue to help developers get their products to market within a matter of hours after submission, rather than days or weeks,” Google’s product manager for Google Play, Eunice Kim, wrote in a blog post.
“In fact, there has been no noticeable change for developers during the rollout.”
The search giant has also announced addition of a new age-based app rating system to the Google Play store which will help the users in identifying which content is appropriate for kids, teens and adults.
Beginning in May, app developers will be required to fill-up a questionnaire about the content of their new and existing apps and games so that Google can designate a relevant rating to each of the apps.
The ratings will be based on standards set by international organizations such as the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) and its participating bodies, which include the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), Pan-European Game Information (PEGI), Australian Classification Board, Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) and Classificação Indicativa (ClassInd). Territories without ratings authorities will display a generic age-based rating.
“We know that people in different countries have different ideas about what content is appropriate for kids, teens and adults, so today’s announcement will help developers better label their apps for the right audience,” Kim noted in the Android Developers Blog.
“Consistent with industry best practices, this change will give developers an easy way to communicate familiar and locally relevant content ratings to their users and help improve app discovery and engagement by letting people choose content that is right for them.”
If in case developers fail to complete the questionnaire, their apps are marked ‘Unrated,’ and may be blocked in certain areas.
