Apple Adds 'Explicit' Category for New App Store Submissions

[MacRumors]

Just days after Apple removed over 5000 "overtly sexual" applications from the App Store, the company appears to have taken a curious turn that could result in the reinstatement of many of these applications.

Cult of Mac reports and MacRumors has confirmed that Apple has added a new "Explicit" category in the iTunes Connect system for App Store submissions. The category is included in drop-down menus that allow developers to select categories for their applications to be placed in, and appears alongside the traditional App Store categories such as "Books", "Entertainment", and "Games".

The reason for Apple's addition of the new category is unknown, although it seems possible that the company may have reconsidered its decision to remove the "overtly sexual" applications in the face of backlash from developers and users and has decided to create a dedicated category in an attempt to find a middle ground in the controversy. The use of a dedicated category for explicit material could supplement the age-rating system used for all App Store applications to easily make the entire category invisible to certain users using Parental Controls.

Article Link: Apple Adds 'Explicit' Category for New App Store Submissions

 

[miles01110]

Just what the App Store needs.... another layer of confusion.

 

[Macman08]

Or it could drive more sales.

 

[SteveSparks]

Just what the App Store needs.... another layer of confusion.

Better than nothing right?

I would think some people might consider this progress verse nothing at all being allowed...

 

[MacDawg]

The Haters™ will just find something new to complain about

 

[azentropy]

The use of a dedicated category for explicit material could supplement the age-rating system used for all App Store applications to easily make the entire category invisible to certain users using Parental Controls.

Pretty sure this was their plan all along. They should have communicated it better though...

 

[MadGoat]

We still don't need boob apps and all that smut... Don't get me wrong, I'm a man, I love porn, but these smut apps are just plain old crap.

 

[jamesryanbell]

Just take 'em off for good.

 

[Cameront9]

I'm guessing this was the plan all along. Now devs just have to resubmit their apps under the appropriate category.

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

Gee, would've made more sense to do this the first time.

 

[talkingfuture]

Surely they should have done this first and then removed all the apps and asked for resubmission.

 

[imwoblin]

If this report is accurate, it's good to see that common sense prevails at 1 Infinite Loop!

 

[PeterQVenkman]

Wow, nice move by Apple. I wonder if the backlash was a factor, or if they planned it from the start.

 

[zombitronic]

Just what the App Store needs.... another layer of confusion.

Confusion is listing a slideshow of naked women under "Lifestyle." Adding a specific category for "Explicit" removes a layer of confusion.

 

[Zwhaler]

Just what the App Store needs.... another layer of confusion.

I disagree. Now it will be easier than ever to find porn on the app store hahaha

 

[elephant man]

It does makes sense. If you don't want the smut, then don't go looking for it. This is the right move Apple. Don't withhold content, but correctly label and catagorize it.

 

[nickXedge]

We still don't need boob apps and all that smut... Don't get me wrong, I'm a man, I love porn, but these smut apps are just plain old crap.

I agree. They are all cheap knock-off porn apps. Make a legit porn app and put it in the explicit category. Reject all these fake porn apps. They're a waste of time.

 

[840quadra]

Hopefully this is a reaction to it's customer base. Regardless, it feels like an afterthought, but a welcome addition.

 

[guzhogi]

I wonder why Apple didn't do this from the beginning? Hopefully this keep all the "Think about the children" happy, or at least content, and Apple continues to rake in the cash from these.

I just hope people don't abuse this by making 20 billion apps that all do roughly the same thing.

 

[jayenh]

We still don't need boob apps and all that smut... Don't get me wrong, I'm a man, I love porn, but these smut apps are just plain old crap.

so don't download them/buy them? you have a choice. putting them on the app store does not force them on to your phone, and the fact they showed up in unrelated searches was as much apples fault as it is the developers, the approval system gives them the final say. for most the people angry about the removal it was never about the content (i completely agree with you on that part), it was about apple making the decision for its users. if i don't want it i wont download it or pay for it.

 

[jaw04005]

I don't care if there are smut apps or really even full out porn apps in the App Store. I just don't want them cluttering up the App Store categories, and I think they should be blocked off by default.

 

[dejo]

I'm guessing this was the plan all along. Now devs just have to resubmit their apps under the appropriate category.

It would be really nice if Apple could communicate some of this stuff to us developers.

 

[Breckenridge]

Apple is missing the easy dirty money. Shame on you Apple. I liked your clean direction, please stay away from filthe.

 

[hitekalex]

Oh boy... Apple just keeps on building confusion and frustration with their back and forth inconsistent policies.

Apple needs to take a long and hard look at the whole App Store approval process. It is apparent they don't know what they're doing here, so they need to stop playing gods with 3rd party apps.

Apple is a technology company, and they should not be in business of censorship or controlling user/developer created content. In the end, they are just shooting themselves in the foot and letting other more open platforms (like Android) capitalize on all the bad press and negative feelings.

 

[Cameront9]

It would be really nice if Apple could communicate some of this stuff to us developers.

Yes, I agree; the whole matter was handled poorly.