Posted by Mindy Brooks – Senior Director, Android Platform
App builders play a significant function in shaping how folks of all ages work together with expertise. Whether or not your app content material is particularly designed for youths or just attracts their consideration, there may be an added duty to make sure a protected and trusted expertise. Google is right here to help you in that work. At the moment, we’re sharing some necessary reminders and updates on how we empower builders to construct high-quality, participating, and age-appropriate apps throughout the Android ecosystem.
Assist Decide Android Consumer Age with Digital IDs
Understanding a consumer’s age vary could be important for offering minors with safer and extra applicable app experiences, in addition to complying with native age-related rules. Android’s new Credential Supervisor API, now in Beta for Digital IDs, addresses this problem by serving to builders confirm a consumer’s age with a digital ID saved to any digital pockets utility. Importantly, Android’s Credential Supervisor was constructed with each security and privateness at its core – it minimizes information publicity by solely sharing data obligatory with builders and asks the consumer for specific permission to share an age sign. We encourage you to check out the Beta API for your self and sit up for listening to your suggestions.
Whereas digital IDs are nonetheless of their early days, we’re persevering with to work with governments on additional adoption to strengthen this answer. Android can be exploring how the API can help a variety of age assurance strategies, serving to builders to securely verify the age of their customers, particularly for customers that may’t or do not wish to use a digital ID. Please take into account that ID-based options are only one instrument that builders can use to find out age and the very best method will rely in your app.
Protect Younger Customers from Inappropriate Content material on Google Play
As a part of our continued dedication to making a protected and constructive surroundings for kids throughout the Play Retailer, we lately launched the Limit Declared Minors (RDM) setting inside the Google Play Console that permits builders to designate their app as inappropriate for minors. When enabled, Google Play customers with declared ages under 18 won’t be able to obtain or buy the app nor will they have the ability to proceed subscriptions or make new purchases if the app is already put in.
Past Play’s broader children security insurance policies, this new setting provides builders a further instrument to proactively stop minors from accessing content material that could be unsuitable for them. It additionally empowers builders to take a extra proactive function in guaranteeing their apps attain the suitable viewers. As a reminder, this characteristic is just one instrument of many to maintain your apps protected and we’re persevering with to enhance it primarily based on early suggestions. Builders stay solely accountable for compliance with related legal guidelines and rules. You possibly can be taught extra about opting in to RDM right here.
Develop Trainer Authorized Apps and Video games on Google Play
Nice content material for youths can take many types, whether or not that’s sparking curiosity, serving to children be taught, or simply plain enjoyable. Google Play’s Trainer Authorized program highlights high-quality apps which can be reviewed and rated by lecturers and little one improvement specialists. Our crew of lecturers and consultants internationally assessment and charge apps on components like age-appropriateness, high quality of expertise, enrichment, and delight. For added transparency, we embody data within the app itemizing about why the app was rated extremely to assist dad and mom decide if the app is true for his or her little one. Apps in this system additionally should meet strict privateness and safety necessities.
Constructing a teacher-approved app not solely helps elevate app high quality for youths – it could possibly additionally enhance your attain and engagement. All apps on this program are eligible to look and be featured on Google Play’s Youngsters tab the place households go to simply uncover high quality apps and video games. Please go to Google Play Academy for extra details about find out how to design high-quality apps for youths.
Keep Up to date With Google Play’s Households Insurance policies
Google Play insurance policies present extra protections for kids and households. Our Households insurance policies require that apps and video games focused to youngsters have applicable content material, present adverts appropriate for kids, and meet different necessities together with ones associated to personally identifiable data. We steadily replace and strengthen these insurance policies to make sure that Google Play stays a spot the place households can discover protected and high-quality content material for his or her youngsters. This contains our new Little one Security Requirements Coverage for social and courting apps that goes into impact in January.
Builders can showcase compliance with Play’s Households insurance policies with a particular badge on the Google Play Information security part. That is one other wonderful means that you could higher assist households discover apps that meet their wants, whereas supporting Play’s dedication to supply customers extra transparency and management over their information. To show the badge, please go to the “Safety practices” part of your Information Security kind in your Google Play Developer Console.
Extra Assets
Defending children on-line is a duty all of us share and we hope these reminders are useful as you put together for 2025. We’re grateful to your partnership in making Android and Google Play incredible platforms for pleasant, high-quality content material for youths and households. For extra assets:
- Watch our interactive Play Academy programs on complying with Play’s Households insurance policies, together with SDK necessities, choosing your goal age and content material settings, and extra.
