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Mobile software content rating system

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A mobile software content rating system is a rating system which is tailored to users of mobile software.

Existing systems

iOS and iPadOS App Store

Main article: App Store (iOS) § Application ratings

Apple's rating system for the App Store follows the following rubric:[1]

  • Rated 4+: Contains no objectionable material.
  • Rated 9+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 9.
  • Rated 12+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 12.
  • Rated 17+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 17.

Apps rated 17+ are prohibited from purchase by younger users.[2]

Google Play

Up until March 17, 2015 Google Play used the following rubric:[3][4]

  • Everyone
  • Low maturity
  • Medium maturity
  • High maturity

Google now uses the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) in most countries not represented by a rating authority, whilst countries or regions with a superimposed video game rating authority (e.g. ESRB and PEGI) continues applying their own ratings where applicable.[5] However, a new Google Play Rating system is used exclusively for non-gaming apps in South Korea.[6] These ratings include:

  • 3+
  • 7+
  • 12+
  • 16+
  • 18+

In Australia, gaming apps are classified under the ACB system, whilst IARC applies its own ratings for non-gaming apps.[6]

CTIA Mobile Application Rating System

The CTIA – The Wireless Association, an industry trade group, collaborated with the ESRB to largely apply ESRB's rating system to mobile devices.[7] It was launched in 2011, with Apple and Google being notable abstentions from subscribing companies.[8]

Amazon Appstore

On the Amazon Appstore, "All Ages" is for all ages. "Guidance Suggested" is for recommendation that parents should give guidance to pre-teens/children. "Mature" is recommended to be suitable for mature audiences. "Adult" is advertisements, graphic violence, nudity or other content only suitable for adult audiences.[9]

Blackberry World

The Blackberry appstore as the following ratings:[10]

  • General (G) – All ages
  • Teen (T) – May not be suitable for children under the age of 13
  • Mature (M) – May not be suitable for children under the age of 17
  • Adult (A) – Content that is generally recognized as appropriate only for, or that is legally restricted to, persons at least the age of majority in their region.

Common Sense Media

Main article: Common Sense Media
  • 2+
  • 3+
  • 4+
  • 5+
  • 6+
  • 7+
  • 8+
  • 9+
  • 10+
  • 11+
  • 12+
  • 13+
  • 14+
  • 15+
  • 16+
  • 17+
  • 18+

Comparison

System 0/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18+ Other
Amazon Appstore All Ages Mature Adult(?)
Guidance Suggested
App Store 4+ 9+ 12+ 17+ No Rating
17+
ClassInd L 10 12 14 16 18 N/A
ESRB
 Canada
 Mexico
 USA 		E E10+ T M AO Rating pending
Suitable for young children
PEGI
 Europe
 India
 Israel
 Pakistan
 South Africa 		3 Voluntary compliance Voluntary compliance Voluntary compliance Voluntary compliance Parental Guidance Recommended
Legally enfored Legally enfored Legally enfored Legally enfored
USK 0 6 10-year-olds are legally permitted to purchase 12-rated games 10-year-olds are legally permitted to purchase 12-rated games 16 18 N/A
Blackberry World General Teen Mature Adult N/A
Common Sense Media N/A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Not Yet Rated
  •  White  – No restrictions: Suitable for all ages / Aimed at young audiences / Exempt / Not rated / No applicable rating.
  •  Yellow  – No restrictions: Parental guidance is suggested for designated age range.
  •  Purple  – No restrictions: Not recommended for a younger audience but not restricted.
  •  Red  – Restricted: Parental accompaniment required for younger audiences.
  •  Black  – Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audience / Purchase age-restricted / Banned.

Explanations of specific ratings are available in corresponding articles.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Identifying Your App in iTunes Connect: Set App Ratings". Apple Inc. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ^ Masna, Aulia (17 July 2009). "App Store rating system raises questions". Macworld. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Application Content Ratings". Google.
  4. ^ "Creating Better User Experiences on Google Play". Android Developers Blog. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  5. ^ "About the International Age Rating Coalition". IARC. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  6. ^ a b Apps & Games content ratings on Google Play
  7. ^ "CTIA Mobile Application Ratings System with ESRB". ESRB.
  8. ^ Chris Velazco (November 29, 2011). "CTIA And ESRB Debut App Rating System, No Buy-In From Google Or Apple". Techcrunch.
  9. ^ Amazon.com: Angry Birds Rio HD (Fire Edition): Appstore for Android (click "guidance suggested" for information on rating system). Archive.
  10. ^ Despicable Me: Minion Rush – BlackBerry World (click "Teen" for information on rating system). Archive.
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