Imagine all your hard work developing an app you’re passionate about going to waste because you hadn’t checked the Google Community Guidelines. It’s a terrible reality, but one that is actually more common than you think. It can be easy to think that just because you’ve crafted a simple everyday to-do list app, the Google Play Store will automatically approve it—but that just isn’t true.
Google takes the integrity of its broader ecosystem and what gets approved for download on the Google Play Store very seriously. With a 70% share of the global smartphone market, the company needs to put strict guidelines in place for users to enjoy a safe experience.
If you’ve got an app ready to go, here are the most important details to know about Google’s Community Guidelines.
What Are Google’s Community Guidelines?
Google’s Community Guidelines are essentially the rules for what’s allowed on the Play Store in order to protect users and hold developers accountable. It ensures that every app available there is held to a standard and adheres to guidelines relating to data privacy, content, and app functionality.
That way, users will be less likely to fall victim to scams or malware that could compromise their data. It’s good news for fans of UK slots, mobile gaming, and those who love apps that streamline their day-to-day lives, as these apps remain accessible as long as they follow the rules.
What Happens If I Don’t Comply?
If a developer were to try and upload an app without regard for the Community Guidelines, they could face rejection and other serious consequences. Each app is thoroughly reviewed by a team at Google and is automatically rejected and removed if it doesn’t meet guidelines. This is a chance for developers to make changes and resubmit. If these changes aren’t made properly and they repeatedly try to upload non-compliant apps, it could lead to a suspension or even a full ban.
Users could then view your brand or developer name as unreliable and lacking credibility, which could harm your reputation forever. Violate a broader data privacy law, and you might even face fines or legal action.
Key Rules to Follow
If you follow these rules, your app will have a better chance of succeeding on the Play Store:
- Avoid restricted content related to: Child endangerment, inappropriate content, illegal activities, deceptive financial and health content, and unauthorised gambling. For detailed information, check out the Restricted Content section.
- Don’t impersonate others or other apps. This means not creating apps that mimic others—for example, making a carbon copy of Twitter using a slightly different bird icon and shade of blue.
- Stay compliant with intellectual property laws—don’t copy work or deceive users. Respect any copyrights and trademarks, including images, music, or features.
- Provide a safe and secure environment for users by keeping their user data safe and providing permission options. You may want to incorporate data encryption to protect sensitive information and disclose any data sharing in your privacy policy.
- Comply with ad and monetization strategy policies. Google allows ads in apps, but they shouldn’t have a negative impact on the user experience. These ads need to be non-intrusive and easily distinguishable from your app content.
- Avoid spamming in your listings and other artificial ways to boost app visibility. You can forget about keyword stuffing, false advertising, artificial reviews, or clickbait tactics—those will immediately get you banned.
- Provide basic functionality for a sound user experience. While your app doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, it should be reliable, free of bugs, and have a clear and consistent user interface.
- Check for malware in your app—consider looking into your coding practices for any overlooked or unintentional vulnerabilities.
- Don’t violate Mobile Unwanted Software principles. Participating in shady activities like unexpected billing and deceptive practices is a no-no.
- Make sure any apps made for children are appropriate and compliant with all relevant laws.
These rules have been summarised for a quick overview, so it’s important to dig deeper into all these policies and guidelines in your own time. For example, app developers making apps for children will also want to look further into the Google Play Families Policies and the Families Self-Certified Ads ADK Policy. Apps for such a vulnerable population need to be heavily regulated to provide an age-appropriate experience and protect young users from inappropriate content.
Even once your app is up on the Play Store, you’ll want to monitor it often. After all, Google itself will continue to monitor all apps and evolve its guidelines.
Staying Up to Date with Google Guidelines
That leads us to our final piece of advice: Always stay up to date with Google’s Community Guidelines. These guidelines aren’t set in stone, as they regularly evolve depending on changes in regulations and new threats. With technology continuing to progress, cybercriminals continue to find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. You’ll want to implement these useful practices:
- Check the Google Play Policy Center from time to time for any updates.
- Subscribe to developer updates from Google so you get information about best practices and policy changes right to your email.
- Review and test your app regularly to remain proactive and catch issues before they get out of hand.
Staying on top of these changes will keep your app compliant and in good standing on the Play Store.
