Mikey Campbell
iOS app developers are seemingly taking notice of the trouble picture-sharing app "500px" faced earlier in January, as App Store veteran Tumblr is now warning users of possible exposure to adult content with its latest update. Tumblr's new age-restriction warning.Source: Tumblr via the App Store
As noted by The Verge, users downloading Wednesday's release of Tumblr version 3.2.4 were met with Apple's "age-restricted material" pop-up box, forcing them to confirm that they were over the age of 17 before installing the app.
While the update's release notes only mention "small bug fixes," the 17+ content warning was a definite change as seen in a cached version of the Tumblr version 3.2.3 iTunes Preview page.
It is unclear whether Tumblr was asked by Apple to make the change or did so proactively in light of a recent kerfuffle over artistic nude photographs in the popular image-sharing apps 500px and ISO500. In that case, the app, which has been available for over 16 months, was flagged for violating App Store policy before being pulled. 500px returned to the App Store on Tuesday with an adult-content warning.
Apple's policy clearly prohibits the distribution of nude or pornographic material through the App Store, meaning any app that has access to the internet or certain adult themed blogs should carry the 17+ rating. Only certain apps are affected by the rule, however, as evidenced by Tumblr's app which had until today gone untouched.
Adding to the issue is the new Twitter-owned app Vine, a short video sharing service that allows users to record and post six-second clips to the internet. The app was featured as an App Store "Editors' Choice" until it was discovered that hardcore pornography could easily be found through the service's hashtag search function. Vine, which ironically carries the subtitle "Make a scene," is still available in the App Store without an adult content rating.
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11 Comments
Are similar actions taken on GooglePlay?
Are similar actions taken on GooglePlay?
Yes, Google also enforces a similar policy and apps were removed from Google Play for having sexual content.
I am really confused. Why hasn't Yahoo's Flickr been mentioned in any of this? Does anyone know that Flickr is filled with objectionable material as well? Or, for some reason, it doesn't matter, or it isn't subject to the same rules? I'm confused.
Yes, Google also enforces a similar policy and apps were removed from Google Play for having sexual content.
But noone gives a shit about that, and I never, ever see headlines being plastered around when this happens. That's the power of Anti-Apple article hit-whoring.
[quote name="crisss1205" url="/t/155729/after-500px-app-store-flap-tumblr-update-warns-users-of-age-restricted-material#post_2268579"]Yes, Google also enforces a similar policy and apps were removed from Google Play for having sexual content. [/quote] Ah, ok, good to hear. Thanks. [quote name="Digital_Guy" url="/t/155729/after-500px-app-store-flap-tumblr-update-warns-users-of-age-restricted-material#post_2268581"]I am really confused. Why hasn't Yahoo's Flickr been mentioned in any of this? Does anyone know that Flickr is filled with objectionable material as well? Or, for some reason, it doesn't matter, or it isn't subject to the same rules? I'm confused.[/quote] Is it Flickr that has this material, or a native app? Otherwise they'd need to ban their own Safari as well. Look, the internet is filled with it, and smartphones are internet connected devices. I'm sure Apple simply does what it can.