“We have paused ads related to gambling and a few other categories on App Store product pages,” multiple publications, including The Verge and MacRumors, cited Apple spokesperson Trevor Kincaid as saying. However, there is no information on how long will this pause be or if is there a way these ads’ placement can be decided.
iPhone App Store started showing ads after Apple announced that companies could advertise their apps on the store pages for other apps. These ads started showing up in the “you might also like” section. However, some developers started to notice that their app page showed ads related to gambling, adult video chat and dating, among other inappropriate topics.
These App Store ads are something…Reading? You might also like: Adult Video ChatIn Therapy for Addictions? You m… https://t.co/4ic3IPRRyu
— Basic Apple Guy (@BasicAppleGuy) 1666750118000
Twitter is filled with screenshots and complaints by developers. Some even shared how gambling app advertisements are popping up below apps that are meant to help people get over their addictions. Apps related to marriage counselling apps have an advertisement for casual dating apps.
According to Apple’s guidelines for App Store advertising, there are restrictions on where apps related to gambling, drinking, dating, and the pharmaceutical and medical industries can be advertised. Gambling applications are “prohibited or limited in some nations and regions,” but there is no mention of the audience to which these types of ads can be offered.
The development comes as Apple is in news for updating its App Store policy, according to which, developers have to pay a 30% cut to the company for in-app advertising. Spotify has also spoken against the “App Store tax” accusing Apple of continuing “to disadvantage competitors.” Reports suggest that Apple rejected Spotify’s audiobooks-related update three since the launch of the business in September.
