0 Content rating coming soon to Android Market

If you are one out there fiddling to find the right app for your needs , the content rating will be the something you may need to look at in the Android Market before you grab any app from there . The content rating will be providing users additional information to help them sort out the best apps for their Android device .
The content policy on Android market remains the same having four content levels namely All , Pre-teen , teen and mature . Check out the content policy at the end of the post.
Android app developers need to get prepared for this launch . All apps and updates submitted there after will require rating while app developers will also have few more weeks of time to add a rating to their existing apps and games . Once the content rating goes live on Android market , apps which have not been rated will be treated as mature content and will be only available to users looking into that category . This has been implemented to make sure all android app developers update the content rating of their app .
Android has been blamed in the past for allowing users to download porn after Apple and Microsoft put in place measures to stop developers from creating these apps.
In September, Microsoft moved to banish any naughty apps from its upcoming Windows Phone 7 by publishing guidelines for developers looking to create programs for its forthcoming Windows Phone 7 platform. One underlying theme was a stringent focus on banning apps with violent and sexual themes and now its time for Android to do this .
This is nice move Google has made towards the Android Market giving it a much cleaner look , making sure the mature content doesn't get delivered to teen age and below teen age group .


Android market content policy :

There are four levels to content ratings:

• All
• Pre-Teen
• Teen
• Mature

Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs
Apps that include references to drugs, alcohol or tobacco products or their use should be rated “Teen” or above. Apps that focus on the consumption or sale of drugs, alcohol or tobacco should be rated “Mature”. Illegal activity or content that is targeted at minors is not allowed in Android Market.
Gambling
Apps with gambling themes or that include simulated gambling should be rated “Teen” or above. Real gambling is not allowed in Android Market.
Hate
Hate speech is not allowed in Android Market. If your app includes inflammatory content that may be offensive to many users, please rate it “Teen” or above.
Location
Applications rated “All” should not ask users for their location at any point. Apps that ask to access course or fine location data should be rated “Pre-Teen” or above. Apps that enable users to publish or share their location with others should be rated “Teen” or above.
Profanity and Crude Humor
Apps that include profanity or crude humor should be rated “Teen” or above.
Sexual and Suggestive Content
Apps that include suggestive or sexual references should be rated “Teen” or above. Apps that focus on such content should be rated “Mature”. Pornography is not allowed in Android Market.
User Generated Content and User to User Communication
Apps rated “All” should not host any user generated content or enable communication between users. Apps that focus on allowing users to find and communicate with each other should be rated “Teen” or above.
Violence
Apps that include mild cartoon or fantasy violence should be rated “Pre-Teen” or above. Realistic or intense fantasy violence should be rated “Teen” or above. Graphic violence should be rated ‘“Mature”. Gratuitous real violence is not allowed in Android Market.

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