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Mobile software content rating system

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

Comparison table

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A comparison of current mobile software rating systems, showing age on the horizontal axis. Note however that the specific criteria used in assigning a classification can vary widely from one country/system to another. Thus a color code or age range cannot be directly compared from one country to another.

Key:

  •  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. (Not used)
  •  Black Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audience / Purchase age-restricted / Banned.

Explanations of specific ratings are available in corresponding articles.

Country/System Age rating Other
0/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
App Store 4+ 9+ 12+ 17+ N/A
Google Play (IARC) 3 7 12 16 18 N/A
ACB
 Australia
G M R 18+ N/A
PG MA 15+
ClassInd
 Brazil
L 10 12 14 16 18 N/A
ESRB
 USA
 Canada
 Mexico
E E10+ T M AO RP
EC
GRAC
 South Korea
ALL 12 15 19 N/A
PEGI
 Europe
 Israel
3 7 12 16 18 !
7 12 16 18
USK
 Germany
0 6 12 12 16 18 N/A
Country/System 0/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Other
Samsung Galaxy Store ALL 4+ 12+ 15+ 18+ N/A
Huawei AppGallery 3+ 7+ 12+ 16+ 18+ N/A
Amazon Appstore All Ages Mature Adult N/A
Guidance Suggested
Blackberry World G T M A 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
Country/System 0/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Other

Existing systems

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App Store (iOS/iPadOS)

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

4+
9+
12+
17+
Apple App Store (iOS/iPadOS) rating logos
  • 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

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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 continues applying their own ratings where applicable. [5] This includes Americas (except Brazil), where ESRB is imposed, Brazil with ClassInd, Europe and Israel with PEGI, Australia with ACB and South Korea with GRAC. However, a new Google Play Rating system is used exclusively in Russia and for non-gaming apps in South Korea.[6] These ratings include:

  • 3+
  • 7+
  • 12+
  • 16+
  • 18+

In Australia, IARC applies its own ratings for non-gaming apps.[6]

Samsung Galaxy Store

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The ratings are, All Ages, 4+, 12+, 16+ and 18+. The 18+ rating is enforced and the rest are advisory.[citation needed]

Huawei AppGallery

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Huawei AppGallery developed own rating system. Ratings are: 3+, 7+, 12+, 15+ and 18+[7]

Amazon Appstore

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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.[8]

Blackberry World

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The Blackberry appstore as the following ratings:[9][10]

  • G (General) – All ages
  • T (Teen) – May not be suitable for children under the age of 13
  • M (Mature) – May not be suitable for children under the age of 17
  • A (Adult) – 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.

CTIA Mobile Application Rating System

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The CTIA – The Wireless Association, an industry trade group, collaborated with the ESRB to largely apply ESRB's rating system to mobile devices.[11] It was launched in 2011, with Apple and Google being notable abstentions from subscribing companies.[12]

Common Sense Media

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  • 2+
  • 3+
  • 4+
  • 5+
  • 6+
  • 7+
  • 8+
  • 9+
  • 10+
  • 11+
  • 12+
  • 13+
  • 14+
  • 15+
  • 16+
  • 17+
  • 18+

See also

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References

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  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 Inc.
  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. ^ "AppGallery Rating system". Huawei Developers. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  8. ^ Amazon.com: Angry Birds Rio HD (Fire Edition): Appstore for Android (click "guidance suggested" for information on rating system). Archive.
  9. ^ Despicable Me: Minion Rush – BlackBerry World (click "Teen" for information on rating system). Archive.
  10. ^ Evelyn, Alex. "Consideringapple". Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  11. ^ "CTIA Mobile Application Ratings System with ESRB". ESRB.
  12. ^ Chris Velazco (November 29, 2011). "CTIA And ESRB Debut App Rating System, No Buy-In From Google Or Apple". Techcrunch.
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