14 DAY TRIAL // Google wants you to enjoy some quality time with your kids, so it has announced a new feature called “Designed for Families,” which will be made available in the upcoming weeks.
Soon, the Google Play Store will be able to highlight “high quality apps and games” that families can enjoy together. The applications that will meet certain guidelines imposed by Google will be moved in a special section that families can access in order to discover content appropriate for children.
Google already lists the standards for these family-centric games and applications, and those approved need to have an ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) “Everyone” or “Everyone 10+” rating.
The search giant explains that developers whose applications will be approved for “Designed for Families” will have a lot to win too, because their programs will be easier to discover.
Software devs who want in can use the Developer Console to present their creations. Once an app is submitted, Google will review the material to make sure everything is according to standards.
Google wants to make app browsing for kids safer
Once Google has enough apps and games suitable for the category, “Designed for Families” will go live. Google’s endeavor seems to be following the path established by Apple’s “Kids section” in the App Store, which is home to select applications that have been submitted for review.
Like in the case of Apple’s kid-dedicated corner, Google won’t permit any apps featuring ads based on in-app activity to make it into “Designed for Families.”
However, your family won’t be spared of advertising 100%. The search giant allows one ad placement per page with the condition that they must be distinguishable from app content.
Google warns that if apps start breaking the rules after the initial approval, they will be completely removed from the Store.
Google hasn’t specified how users will go about finding these special apps, so we have to guess that the company will set up a new category in the Google Play store.
Not so long ago, YouTube also rolled out a kiddie-dedicated version called YouTube kids for Android devices, a service designed to offer age-appropriate videos, channels and playlists. But even if the new app hasn't been out for long, parents have accused YouTube of allowing way too many ads. A mistake Google certainly doesn’t want to make.
