“Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics” • Hacker News Board

Re: “Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics”

#21

Post by lukevdp » Wed, Jun 05, 2019, 8:42 PM UTC

lotu wrote: post #10

joshstrange wrote: post #2

Here is the whole section > 1.3 Kids Category > The Kids Category is a great way for people to easily find apps that are designed for children. If you want to participate in the Kids Category, you should focus on creating a great experience specifically for younger users. These apps must not include links out of the app, purchasing opportunities, or other distractions to kids unless reserved for a designated area beh…

Obviously, but where do you want to go with that? Are you suggesting that because kids can use any app on a phone that all tracking and ads should be banned?

No, looks like it is just the apps targeted at kids.

Re: “Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics”

#22

Post by djanogo » Wed, Jun 05, 2019, 8:43 PM UTC

chillydawg wrote: post #4

If I were apple I'd extend the definition of a kids app as any app thats userbase is kids by majority. Not sure how to enforce or detect that, though!

The screen time feature lets parents control kids iPhones/iPads through content ratings, I am sure it would be relatively easy to extend it to kids feature. Also kids Apple ID would have the age info.

Re: “Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics”

#23

Post by Someone1234 » Wed, Jun 05, 2019, 8:43 PM UTC

How does this impact Google's "YouTube Kids" app. It is currently listed as the "Best video app for all kids" on iTunes. It contains more videos advertising stuff to kids than it does any other kind.

With McDonalds non-affilitated but clearly still ads being the most prominent.

Re: “Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics”

#24

Post by MBCook » Wed, Jun 05, 2019, 8:44 PM UTC

robbrown451 wrote: post #20

Is this a new change? What is the backstory on this? And how is "third party" defined? Sounds easy to game by having it only directly communicate with the server of the app developer, and having it completely impossible for Apple to tell whether or not they are then communicating with a third party service.

It’s new, it was announced during the keynote on Monday. We’re getting some more details now though.

Re: “Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics”

#25

Post by Kluny » Wed, Jun 05, 2019, 8:44 PM UTC

lotu wrote: post #10

joshstrange wrote: post #2

Here is the whole section > 1.3 Kids Category > The Kids Category is a great way for people to easily find apps that are designed for children. If you want to participate in the Kids Category, you should focus on creating a great experience specifically for younger users. These apps must not include links out of the app, purchasing opportunities, or other distractions to kids unless reserved for a designated area beh…

Obviously, but where do you want to go with that? Are you suggesting that because kids can use any app on a phone that all tracking and ads should be banned?

iPhones have kids mode that prevents the kid from using any app on the phone. That will probably only deter toddlers, but it's something.

Re: “Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics”

#26

Post by kerng » Wed, Jun 05, 2019, 8:45 PM UTC

I totally agree with this!

I built a game and naively added ads to it as it seemed a good way to monetize. The game started to be really liked, and had 300k+ downloads overall. Many kids started playing it also.

Luckily I realized quickly that kids play on the devices of parents and so the ads they might see are at times super inappropriate!

Then I removed all ads, I'd rather make less money but have people play and have a good time. Its not always about money. At times I get contacted by players, how they love the game and how it has been part of their childhood etc. Some very moving messages, worth more then a few additional bucks from ads and I feel much better because players aren't exposed to random ads, pictures and messages.

The learning for me was that I will never work on anything that uses ads as source of income, this includes turning down jobs at Google and Facebook.

Re: “Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics”

#27

Post by lotu » Wed, Jun 05, 2019, 8:46 PM UTC

Someone1234 wrote: post #23

How does this impact Google's "YouTube Kids" app. It is currently listed as the "Best video app for all kids" on iTunes. It contains more videos advertising stuff to kids than it does any other kind. With McDonalds non-affilitated but clearly still ads being the most prominent.

Well given that Google own the AdSense/DoubleClick platform which is used for serving ads on YouTube as well as all of it's own custom analytic tools none of these would be third party. The part about not linking out of the app would still apply though.

Re: “Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics”

#28

Post by nkrisc » Wed, Jun 05, 2019, 8:46 PM UTC

criddell wrote: post #3

joshstrange wrote: post #2

Here is the whole section > 1.3 Kids Category > The Kids Category is a great way for people to easily find apps that are designed for children. If you want to participate in the Kids Category, you should focus on creating a great experience specifically for younger users. These apps must not include links out of the app, purchasing opportunities, or other distractions to kids unless reserved for a designated area beh…

Why do they ban third-party advertising in particular? It seems like advertising should be allowed as long as it's display only with no outward information flow. Basically ads equivalent OTA television or magazine ads should be allowed.

Honestly all advertising targeted to children should be banned. It's just not fair. Children don't stand a chance against marketing crafted by adults. You're pitting the mind of a child against that of a trained, professional, adult marketer. The kid is their clay to be molded.

Re: “Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics”

#29

Post by snek » Wed, Jun 05, 2019, 8:46 PM UTC

mithr wrote: post #15

criddell wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do they ban third-party advertising in particular? It seems like advertising should be allowed as long as it's display only with no outward information flow. Basically ads equivalent OTA television or magazine ads should be allowed.

In general, I believe it's based on the belief that children in partiular don't yet have the necessary mental tools to be able to properly analyze content -- basically, that they're influenced by media to a much higher degree than adults. > Basically ads equivalent OTA television or magazine ads should be allowed I would guess that proponents of this approach also feel that the contents of TV/magazine ads should be s…

Not just a belief, it's been studied many times, and it is in fact illegal to have "native" advertising on children's TV shows, at least in the U.S.

Re: “Apps intended for kids may not include third-party advertising or analytics”

#30

Post by MBCook » Wed, Jun 05, 2019, 8:46 PM UTC

chillydawg wrote: post #4

If I were apple I'd extend the definition of a kids app as any app thats userbase is kids by majority. Not sure how to enforce or detect that, though!

> Keep in mind that once customers expect your app to follow the Kids Category requirements, it will need to continue to meet these guidelines in subsequent updates, even if you decide to deselect the category.

Sounds like they’re ready.