Apple accused of promoting scam 'slime relaxation' apps in App Store

Users in Australia are complaining that the App Store is featuring "slime relaxation" apps that may not do anything, except charge steep subscriptions.

Scam apps have made their way onto both Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store before, with some making millions of dollars. Now, however, Apple is being accused of actively promoting apps that reportedly do little or nothing, and yet can charge users up to $500 (AU$676) per year.

This is infuriating. How is Apple *featuring* these scams?

Let's take a look at one of these apps!

"Jelly: Slime simulator, ASMR"

1/https://t.co/lDTn8eEVfz pic.twitter.com/VyYKUSLdJE
— Simeon (@twolivesleft) August 5, 2021

In a Twitter thread started by developer Simeon, Apple is shown to be promoting an app called Jelly: Slime simulation ASMR in its list of "featured" apps.

This app has a free three-day trial, then charges $9.64 (AU$13) per week.

"[As] as a developer who is not looking to scam people (I don't want your money accidentally! Nor do I want to charge obscene amounts for trivial things)," continues Simeon, "this makes it hard for anyone to trust us & the App Store."

Another Twitter user by the name Beau Nouvelle, claims that Apple has promoted these apps before. "One of them doesn't even do anything," he says.

Apple has not commented. However, it has previously and consistently maintained that it curates the App Store to protect users.

8 Comments

Rayz2016 6957 comments · 8 Years

About 3 years ago

A failure so huge it can be seen from space.

Letting them get onto the App Store is one thing, but does this mean Apple doesn’t even run the apps it’s promoting?

crowley 10431 comments · 15 Years

I don't get it. Every app I've ever used that had a free trial needed me to confirm and authenticate the subscription renewal, and made clear clear how much I was being charged. Is that not the case for these apps?

9secondkox2 3124 comments · 8 Years

This is likely the result of one of two things:

1) an algorithm running promotions

or… more likely…

2) an overworked (or possibly lazy but I doubt it) App Store marketer who simply saw some hot keywords and thought it looked cool snd had some medicinal value. Sounds like a win, right? Perhaps this person put too much trust in those vetting apps.

Reminder for all of us: do your due diligence.

Beats 3073 comments · 4 Years

Slime relaxation?

weekly subscription? Slimy apps.

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

Rayz2016 said:

A failure so huge it can be seen from space.
Letting them get onto the App Store is one thing, but does this mean Apple doesn’t even run the apps it’s promoting?

Yeah, imagine what will happen when Apple has no control at all over what gets in the App Store. Imagine the third party shit that will get installed when side-loading is mandated.