Intrusive advertising in Android apps and games will be gone from now on - Thank you Google
Google has introduced a set of guidelines aimed at combating invasive advertising and identity theft in Android games and applications.
For many years, the Play Store was a wasteland. App clones, games that display indiscriminate advertising, and malware are all part of the Android experience. However, that might change very soon as a result of an amendment to Google's developer regulations.
The business released a set of rules aimed at improving the user experience and security of consumers who download apps from the Google Play Store. The new restrictions will prohibit unexpected full-screen adverts, particularly in video games. Developers will also be unable to deceive consumers by impersonating a third party through the use of app images, descriptions, or titles, or to utilise limited rights such as employing the precise alarm.
The regulations will apply to both new and already released applications and games in the Google Play Store. Developers will have a 30-day window to make any required changes. Each guideline has a separate effective date, but Google has prioritised addressing the most important issues first: advertising and copycat applications.
Intrusive advertising in Play Store games and apps- Banned
Google will not allow full-screen interstitial adverts that come unexpectedly to improve the user experience. This applies to static advertisements, movies, GIF files, and any other format. Ads may not be displayed while playing the game, at the start of a level, or at the start of a content segment. Full-screen video advertising that appear before an Android app's loading screen are likewise not permitted. Remember that irritating full-screen ad that wouldn't go away after 15 seconds? It will also be restricted. Only after the score screen, i.e. after you finish a level, game makers be able to put adverts 15 seconds ads.
There are various exceptions to the Better Ads Experiences standard for Android. The rules do not apply to acts when you consent to see advertising in return for something. For example, if you've run out of lives in Candy Crush and need to watch a commercial to gain another chance, the game may show the ad. Ads that do not interfere with the regular app or game use, such as banners or integrated video advertising, will not be restricted.
The new guidelines will take effect from September 30, 2022. Here are some examples of advertising that you will no longer see in the Play Store.
Identity theft through Google Ads will be stopped
If your application is not linked to or approved by anybody, do not pretend that it is. Use of icons, app descriptions, app names, or in-app components that might mislead consumers about your app's affiliation to another person or app should be avoided.
Beginning August 31, 2022, apps and games may not use icons or titles that imply a relationship with another company, entity, organization, or developer. It will not be allowed to copy a company logo to confuse people, which will surely eliminate hundreds (or thousands) of applications that currently use icons similar to Twitter, YouTube and other official apps.
More policy changes for Android apps and games
In addition to these two standards, Google also announced that it will not accept Android applications that promote disinformation in health. This considers apps that make misleading claims about vaccines and advocate unapproved treatments or practices that are harmful to people, such as gay conversion therapy.
Developers will not be able to use the exact alarm feature if their app is not an alarm, timer or calendar app that displays event notifications. They will also not be able to provide alternatives to bypass FLAG_SECURE. This statement prevents data from being recorded when capturing screens and is used by streaming video applications.
Lastly, developers offering subscriptions in apps will need to specify to their users how to manage or cancel the subscription. Apps must include access to an easy online method to cancel service, which can be found on the user's account settings page.
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