500px Photo Sharing Application Returns to App Store After Nude Photo Concerns

[MacRumors]

Last week, Apple pulled the 500px photo sharing app from the App Store over concerns about "artistic" nude photographs on the service.

Today, according to reports from both TechCrunch and 500px's Twitter feed, the app has returned to the store.

The app returns with an age-gate warning, advising that the content in the app is for 17+ audiences, and also adds a new "Report Photo" button to help users quickly tag things they find offensive for potential removal from the network.

The app still has a category for "Nude" photos for logged in users, however, which is an impressive allowance on Apple's part

The return of the app follows the removal of Twitter's Vine as an 'Editor's Pick' on the App Store after a pornography scandal on that platform.

500px is a free download on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: 500px Photo Sharing Application Returns to App Store After Nude Photo Concerns

[milo]

I don't see why it's so "impressive" that apple would allow it considering that people can find the exact same content via safari. Or even R rated movies in the itunes store. Or "adult" books via iBooks (just look at the books top ten).

[samcraig]

Originally Posted by milo

I don't see why it's so "impressive" that apple would allow it considering that people can find the exact same content via safari. Or even R rated movies in the itunes store. Or "adult" books via iBooks (just look at the books top ten).

It's not surprising they would allow it. It was more "shocking" it was removed in the first place.

[milo]

Exactly.

[nickn]

Apple needs to step up their game. First, I propose that safari be removed, as of course every single page is full of crazy smut. Next, delete the mail app, as this morning I got a nasty email offering cheap Viagra. Then delete the iBooks app, as there are way to many erotica books. The iTunes store also needs to go, as many songs have sexual lyrics. Think of the children! 5th, I came across how people can send files via bluetooth, so delete that chip just in case, along with the WiFi radio now that I think of it. Finally, iTunes allows people to download files to their iOS device, so to prevent people from loading filthy images and movies, remove the USB port from all apple devices. Sounds like a winner!

[Glassed Silver]

Our kids will never be safe again!

Glassed Silver:mac

[bjsterilite]

Originally Posted by nickn

Apple needs to step up their game. First, I propose that safari be removed, as of course every single page is full of crazy smut. Next, delete the mail app, as this morning I got a nasty email offering cheap Viagra. Then delete the iBooks app, as there are way to many erotica books. The iTunes store also needs to go, as many songs have sexual lyrics. Think of the children! 5th, I came across how people can send files via bluetooth, so delete that chip just in case, along with the WiFi radio now that I think of it. Finally, iTunes allows people to download files to their iOS device, so to prevent people from loading filthy images and movies, remove the USB port from all apple devices. Sounds like a winner!

Yeah-yuh!

[samcraig]

Originally Posted by nickn

Apple needs to step up their game. First, I propose that safari be removed, as of course every single page is full of crazy smut. Next, delete the mail app, as this morning I got a nasty email offering cheap Viagra. Then delete the iBooks app, as there are way to many erotica books. The iTunes store also needs to go, as many songs have sexual lyrics. Think of the children! 5th, I came across how people can send files via bluetooth, so delete that chip just in case, along with the WiFi radio now that I think of it. Finally, iTunes allows people to download files to their iOS device, so to prevent people from loading filthy images and movies, remove the USB port from all apple devices. Sounds like a winner!

They should just remove the screen and cameras too - for the same reasons. Oh - and since you can get obscene phonecalls - take that 3G/4G/LTE chip right out of there!

[err404]

Are people intentionally missing the whole point of the removal just to hate on Apple? This was not about the nude content, it was that the app was rated safe for kids. Without the correct content identifiers the app could be downloaded by minors even if a parent had enabled age restrictions. Apple took the appropriate response when pulling the app, and was similarly appropriate when putting it back.

[Northgrove]

I have to wonder why this went so far as to having it pulled, causing all this negative press for Apple due to Tumblr and Flickr openly welcoming far more extreme porn than that on 500px and them just ending up looking hypocritical, if it can even be called porn (we're talking the fine art niche in photography here).

I saw few, if any, remark on the 500px age classification as the culprit, which speaks of a miscommunication on Apple's behalf.

One possible scenario is that 500px had been contacted in advance with Apple warning them, and them refusing to heed their warning. But that doesn't make much sense because 500px has a very strong presence on iOS and far more to lose than Apple on being pulled.

It rather seems like a lack of communication where there should have been one for the better of both of these companies. Hopefully, 500px learnt the lesson of paying attention, and Apple on bad press that might have been avoidable with a simple three sentence e-mail letter.

[samcraig]

Originally Posted by err404

Are people intentionally missing the whole point of the removal just to hate on Apple? This was not about the nude content, it was that the app was rated safe for kids. Without the correct content identifiers the app could be downloaded by minors even if a parent had enabled age restrictions. Apple took the appropriate response when pulling the app, and was similarly appropriate when putting it back.

First of all - have a sense of humor. What you are considering "hate" - most people are considering poking fun/having a sense of humor.

Second - we all know why it was pulled. It's the hyprocrisy of THIS app getting pulled while others remain - and without having a revised content rating.

[mabhatter]

Originally Posted by bjsterilite

Yeah-yuh!

More importantly, access to Camera.app should be restricted to adults only. Imagine all the stupid crap minors take photos and videos of!!! Even worse they could take a photo of THEIR OWN JUNK, because they are not supervised 24x7, and post it on one of these sites! Can you believe we let minors use MIRRORS unsupervised... The depravity!!!!

Apple should also build a sensor into the voice recorder so cursing isn't transmitted over the phone lines or recorded unless both sides have the "adults only" flag set.

[nikicampos]

Originally Posted by err404

Are people intentionally missing the whole point of the removal just to hate on Apple? This was not about the nude content, it was that the app was rated safe for kids. Without the correct content identifiers the app could be downloaded by minors even if a parent had enabled age restrictions. Apple took the appropriate response when pulling the app, and was similarly appropriate when putting it back.

Finally, I thought that everyone was just hating, exactly what I was thinking, and people taking about Safari, Mail etc. come on, Apple is protecting the App Store and making it safe for kids and to give peace of mind to parents, you can always block Safari, Bluetooth and block apps 4+ 9+ 12+ 17+ from within Restrictions.. it's not about porn or nude pictures, it's about makings the App Store safe for kids and to be able to restrict an app that has nude pictures by parental control.

If people want porn, they can find it anywhere they want, just not the App Store, I don't have kids, but this makes a lot of sense since kids now days only want tablets/cell phones/gaming consoles and that would make the parents to choose Apple products over something else that are not so concern about porn or nudity.

[mabhatter]

Originally Posted by nikicampos

Finally, I thought that everyone was just hating, exactly what I was thinking, and people taking about Safari, Mail etc. come on, Apple is protecting the App Store and making it safe for kids and to give peace of mind to parents, you can always block Safari, Bluetooth and block apps 4+ 9+ 12+ 17+ from within Restrictions.. it's not about porn or nude pictures, it's about makings the App Store safe for kids and to be able to restrict an app that has nude pictures by parental control.

If people want porn, they can find it anywhere they want, just not the App Store, I don't have kids, but this makes a lot of sense since kids now days only want tablets/cell phones/gaming consoles and that would make the parents to choose Apple products over something else that are not so concern about porn or nudity.

Except you had to go to the 500px website, create an account, then disable "safe search" to "accidentally" view such material on the first place. If you are smart enough to do all that, you are smart enough to be responsible to respect your parents limits ON YOUR OWN. Apple doesn't need to MISLABEL an app's age rating just because a kid "could" do something...

If that's the case, I want calculator.app banned for spelling "5318008"

[Macrolido]

They should do the same with flickr.

[nikicampos]

Originally Posted by mabhatter

More importantly, access to Camera.app should be restricted to adults only. Imagine all the stupid crap minors take photos and videos of!!! Even worse they could take a photo of THEIR OWN JUNK, because they are not supervised 24x7, and post it on one of these sites! Can you believe we let minors use MIRRORS unsupervised... The depravity!!!!

Apple should also build a sensor into the voice recorder so cursing isn't transmitted over the phone lines or recorded unless both sides have the "adults only" flag set.

I know you were being sarcastic, but hey, it's all there in restrictions, you can block the use of the camera, facetime, safari, ratings for movies, books, apps, songs etc. even explicit language for Siri..

Example.

[samcraig]

If you can block apps - then you don't need to block 500px - because APPS are blocked

Originally Posted by nikicampos

I know you were being sarcastic, but hey, it's all there in restrictions, you can block the use of the camera, facetime, safari, ratings for movies, books, apps, songs etc. even explicit language for Siri..

Example.
Image

[nikicampos]

Originally Posted by samcraig

If you can block apps - then you don't need to block 500px - because APPS are blocked

But how are you going to restrict/block an app that has nude pictures if the app is not rated 17+ like 500px is now..

People should do some research before trashing something they are not familiar with or don't know how it works.

This was a good move by Apple, it will give parents the feeling that Apple is concern about their kids and even the app it's getting out there with some free publicity.. there are like twenty apps with 500px on them, this will set this app apart, people will look for this exact app if they are into this kind of apps.

[cgmpowers]

I just don't get the whole fuss over Vine and 500px.

The majority of us have cable, uverse, or satellite tv...correct? Go download the HBO or Cinemax apps. There's a whole library of "after dark" movies that have tones of porn on it. Yet, I don't see anyone crying about those!?!

Oh but wait, its the movie industry that puts out this porn, so it must be okay.

The hypocrisy is overwhelming...

[TMar]

Originally Posted by nikicampos

Finally, I thought that everyone was just hating, exactly what I was thinking, and people taking about Safari, Mail etc. come on, Apple is protecting the App Store and making it safe for kids and to give peace of mind to parents, you can always block Safari, Bluetooth and block apps 4+ 9+ 12+ 17+ from within Restrictions.. it's not about porn or nude pictures, it's about makings the App Store safe for kids and to be able to restrict an app that has nude pictures by parental control.

If people want porn, they can find it anywhere they want, just not the App Store, I don't have kids, but this makes a lot of sense since kids now days only want tablets/cell phones/gaming consoles and that would make the parents to choose Apple products over something else that are not so concern about porn or nudity.

Glad they are making it safe for kids, but it isn't enough. Apple need to invent a mirror that detects nudity and blocks it so kids can be completely protected from the human form. God forbid they see themselves nude. It might corrupt their wittle minds!

[err404]

Originally Posted by cgmpowers

I just don't get the whole fuss over Vine and 500px.

The fuss comes from the media, not so much from Apple. Both apps are available in the store. In the first case App pulled the app until the rating could be corrected (yes, the correct rating is important). In the case of Vine, they just choose not to promote an app in the midst of controversy. This was mostly a PR decision. I'm surprised that anybody even noticed.
Back to your film industry analogy, this would be like an R rated movie being listed as PG. R rated movies are fine, but should be labeled correctly to help parents stay informed.

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by err404

Are people intentionally missing the whole point of the removal just to hate on Apple? This was not about the nude content, it was that the app was rated safe for kids. Without the correct content identifiers the app could be downloaded by minors even if a parent had enabled age restrictions. Apple took the appropriate response when pulling the app, and was similarly appropriate when putting it back.

So is Safari not rated to be safe for kids?

[err404]

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

So is Safari not rated to be safe for kids?

Actually that is correct. This is whay Safari can be restricted and all third party iOS browsers are rated 17+.

[err404]

Originally Posted by mabhatter

Except you had to go to the 500px website, create an account, then disable "safe search" to "accidentally" view such material on the first place.

Parents can't control this registration. Even if a parent disables Safari, it's easy to have a friend create an account. Apple cant see or influence that setting, so it doesn't act as a control.

[Glassed Silver]

Originally Posted by err404

Are people intentionally missing the whole point of the removal just to hate on Apple? This was not about the nude content, it was that the app was rated safe for kids. Without the correct content identifiers the app could be downloaded by minors even if a parent had enabled age restrictions. Apple took the appropriate response when pulling the app, and was similarly appropriate when putting it back.

They could have just... you know... edited the rating.

Glassed Silver:mac