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Apple now allows iOS developers to send ads using push notifications

developer-tech.com

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Re: Apple now allows iOS developers to send ads using push notifications

#11

Post by viraptor »

sanedigital wrote: post #3

Depending on how this is implemented, this could actually be a step in the right direction. Lots of apps already send "promotional" push notifications (including big names like Lyft and Uber). The only way to turn them off was to turn off all notifications, which meant missing actual important updates. If this change means being able to opt-out of one without losing the other, I'm all for it.

This seems to work pretty well even when not enforced on Android: https://developer.android.com/training/notify-user/channels

There are some bad apps which will abuse it and use only one category for the important things and ads. But mostly - it's ok. Enforcing a channel for ads would be even better.

Re: Apple now allows iOS developers to send ads using push notifications

#12

Post by wjnc »

viraptor wrote: post #11
sanedigital wrote: post #3

Depending on how this is implemented, this could actually be a step in the right direction. Lots of apps already send "promotional" push notifications (including big names like Lyft and Uber). The only way to turn them off was to turn off all notifications, which meant missing actual important updates. If this change means being able to opt-out of one without losing the other, I'm all for it.

This seems to work pretty well even when not enforced on Android: https://developer.android.com/training/notify-user/channels There are some bad apps which will abuse it and use only one category for the important things and ads. But mostly - it's ok. Enforcing a channel for ads would be even better.

Don't enforce things if on average they already work. You don't know the second order effects. Currently developers have to balance spamminess versus people opting out completely, which probably diminishes future use of the app. That's a nice informal balance. Formalizing it may lead to much more spamminess since hey, you can always opt out.

Re: Apple now allows iOS developers to send ads using push notifications

#14

Post by saagarjha »

kdtsh wrote: post #2

Not that it makes it okay for Apple to allow this, but it goes without saying that any app that does this, paid or unpaid, is getting immediately uninstalled.

Now, if only you could uninstall the system apps that did this without losing critical functionality…

Re: Apple now allows iOS developers to send ads using push notifications

#15

Post by saagarjha »

Razengan wrote: post #10

Throwing a "This app wants to send you notifications" dialog as soon as you launch an app for the first time, should be banned.

Interestingly, I run exactly this in one of my apps. A lot of users never actually figure out my app has notifications, but I sleep a lot better at night knowing that I'm not annoying people with prompts.

Re: Apple now allows iOS developers to send ads using push notifications

#17

Post by a_imho »

sanedigital wrote: post #3

Depending on how this is implemented, this could actually be a step in the right direction. Lots of apps already send "promotional" push notifications (including big names like Lyft and Uber). The only way to turn them off was to turn off all notifications, which meant missing actual important updates. If this change means being able to opt-out of one without losing the other, I'm all for it.

Interestingly I interpret the article as apps were abusing push notifications without a second thought in the past when it was explicitly against the guidelines, I fail to see how they will self moderate now some of it is even allowed.

With the ample data we have so far it most probably will lead to dark UI patterns with dysfunctional opt-outs and/or blanket consents at most if someone takes it seriously at all.

Re: Apple now allows iOS developers to send ads using push notifications

#19

Post by deergomoo »

oefrha wrote: post #5

> People with an app installed for their favourite clothing brand, for example, may welcome a push notification to alert them when a sale is on. So this wasn’t allowed before? But those “check out this stupid post from that random stranger” push notifications were allowed (maybe not on paper but definitely in practice)? Seems only fair then.

Promotional push notifications were technically against the rules but it was never enforced. Hell, Apple does it themselves.

Re: Apple now allows iOS developers to send ads using push notifications

#20

Post by amelius »

a_imho wrote: post #17
sanedigital wrote: post #3

Depending on how this is implemented, this could actually be a step in the right direction. Lots of apps already send "promotional" push notifications (including big names like Lyft and Uber). The only way to turn them off was to turn off all notifications, which meant missing actual important updates. If this change means being able to opt-out of one without losing the other, I'm all for it.

Interestingly I interpret the article as apps were abusing push notifications without a second thought in the past when it was explicitly against the guidelines, I fail to see how they will self moderate now some of it is even allowed. With the ample data we have so far it most probably will lead to dark UI patterns with dysfunctional opt-outs and/or blanket consents at most if someone takes it seriously at all.

Then these apps would be removed from the app store, I suppose.
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