Android apps ban: Google Play Store to slap ban on these sexual gratification apps; set to vanish from phones

Android apps ban: Block, delete, remove that is exactly what Google has in store for these controversial apps from this date coming soon. In a big development, a Google ban looms large over these controversial Google Play Store apps. They are set to be banned from the Play Store in a massive crackdown and they will vanish from users' phones. Google said that it was banning ‘apps that promote sex-related entertainment, escort services or other services that may be interpreted as providing sexual acts in exchange for compensation’ or in other words sugar dating apps. In addition to that, Google also announced that it is ‘updating its inappropriate content policy to institute new restrictions on sexual content, specifically prohibiting compensated sexual relationships (sugar daddy or sugar dating apps). To make this effort successful, Google is making major changes to its app store, the Google Play Store that will ensure these apps will disappear from phones.

Google, via an update on its Google Play Console Help page, also announced that it was adding new restrictions to its Families policy requirements on identifiers used in apps that target children. “We’re adding new restrictions in our Families policy requirements on identifiers used in apps that target children. Developers need to comply by 1 September 2021 except for ad ID changes,” Google announced.

“We don't allow apps that contain or promote sexual content or profanity, including pornography, or any content or services intended to be sexually gratifying. Content that contains nudity may be allowed if the primary purpose is educational, documentary, scientific or artistic and is not gratuitous,” the company wrote in a support page.

It is worth noting that Google doesn’t exactly mention the term ‘sugar dating’ apps on its help page but it does refer to the apps ‘providing sexual acts in exchange for compensation’.

Also read: Looking for a smartphone? Check Mobile Finder here.

List of Sugar Dating apps on Google Play Store

Examples of sugar dating apps on Google Play Store are listed below however, there is no certainty about their status in the new Google inappropriate content policy:

1. My Sugar Daddy, Spoil

2. SDM

3. Elite Millionaire Singles

4. Seeking Arrangement

5. SugarFetch

6. Sugar Daddy Dating

7. Sugar Daddy Allowance.

Google Play Store Apps Ban looms on EDSA

Apart from this, Google also announced that it is also banning apps that contain EDSA (Educational, Documentary, Scientific or Artistic) content related to Nazis may be blocked in certain countries, in accordance with local laws and regulations.

“We don't allow apps that lack reasonable sensitivity towards or capitalise on a natural disaster, atrocity, health crisis, conflict, death or other tragic event. Apps with content related to a sensitive event are generally allowed if that content has EDSA (Educational, Documentary, Scientific or Artistic) value or intends to alert users to or raise awareness for the sensitive event,” the company wrote on its support page.