Full Frontal Nudity on 12+ Rated Apps

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Level 1

16 points

Full Frontal Nudity on 12+ Rated Apps

I was shocked when my grandson who has a 12+ age restriction for apps was found by his mom to be watching very graphic nude videos on his IPad. On investigation I found he had downloaded an app called "TubeX" which is rated 12+. However, TubeX is a back door into YouTube -- which is rated 17+ for nudity and violence. Obviously, TubeX is rated incorrectly: not only should 12 year olds not be watching graphic nudity or violence but why would YouTube be rated 17+ and the back door into it rated 12+?

When I contacted Apple Support I was even more shocked. I got bounced around through half a dozen people -- but all of them told me that Apple has no interest in or responsibility for age ratings. Instead, they said that the app developers specify their own ratings! That's like movie makers rating their own movies!

I can understand that Apple is not in the rating business. But, when an app that they are selling is clearly mislabeled and misrepresented and being sold to kids as age appropriate and Apple is informed, they DO have an obligation to at least look into it and make some effort to correct the problem. Can you imagine taking your kid to a "G" rated movie that has full frontal nudity and the theater telling you its not their problem?

I did address the issue through the Apple Support line and, besides being told that it wasn't Apple's problem, I was told to "report it" on Apple.com/feedback. However, there is no place to report issues with IOS apps there. I was also told to do things like turning off his ability to install new apps or add him to Family Share (which gives him access to my credit card). None of those were acceptable remedies and none actually fix the problem.... Finally the last person I spoke with (a supervisor at ITunes) told me she would send a message to the App Developer Team -- but she offered no hope that they would address the issue with this app. Actually, she implied that they would probably not do anything about it.

The problem is: while I could delete the app, he could add it right back on. I need a way to block him from installing the app.

... Is there a way to fix this?

....... Should Apple step up to the plate and take responsibility?

............Can I put any future faith in Apple's Age rating/restrictions systems?

iPad Mini, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Feb 25, 2016 9:17 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 7, 2016 3:38 PM in response to GeorgeBMac

This may seem like a snarky response, but I was kid raised during the rise of internet pornogrpahy. No matter what you do to try and block ***********, you will fail. No way around it.

Your best solution to your issue is parenting. Teach your kid the right thing to do.

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Answer 2

Feb 25, 2016 11:03 AM in response to GeorgeBMac

I would recommend contacting Apple once more, ask for a manager & give them this information & that manager can contact their higher-ups.

This app is basically like Youtube, it isn't necessarily a back door, you can find x rated things on anything if you know how to look for it.

Apple was correct telling you they can’t change it, only the developer can so reaching out to a manager once more & have them contact their higher-ups to see if they can personally reach out to the developer of the app.

Still, it is up to the parent/guardian to check things. If your grandson goes to google.com & googles something it can contain inappropriate things for him. Does his mother allow him to search websites & such? If so it could lead to inappropriate things.

Does he go to the library? If so, it could lead to what some may feel are inappropriate things.

I completely understand where you are coming from so please don’t take what I said above the wrong way.

I looked in my iTunes account & clicked the rating of one of my apps & saw this: User uploaded file

The app TubeX has this:

User uploaded file

You can just Google app store age ratings & the website below comes up, it is the guidelines for developers.

https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/LanguagesUtilities/Concept ual/iTunesConnect_Guide/Chapters/FirstSteps.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40011225- CH19-SW19

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Answer 3

GeorgeBMac Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 25, 2016 12:16 PM in response to sidkillednancy

Thanks...

Actually, the last person I spoke with was a manager (or supervisor). She agreed to notify the App Development team but was not encouraging that they would respond with anything helpful. Actually, she was more discouraging than anything.

.

And, I agree with you that parents need to take responsibility. Obviously. But, in this case, the parents were assuming that the Age Rating carried some credibility and that Apple would stand behind it. But, at this point, it appears that it has no more validity than anything pulled at random from the internet. Unfortunately, we assumed that since the rating was on apps being sold by Apple on their own store, that Apple had at least some small responsibility to assure its accuracy. To discover that the developer could provide any age rating that they chose and Apple took a hands-off, 'not our job' approach has been quite a shock.

But, aside from the inaccurate rating, the problem remains that without taking extreme measures such as blocking ALL downloads, there is no way to prevent the child from downloading the offensive app again. Which means Apple's parental controls are not to be trusted. That's kind of a problem. Parents rely on those ratings and that Apple will stand behind what it sells on its stores...

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Answer 4

GeorgeBMac Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 29, 2016 12:11 PM in response to GeorgeBMac

Just an update to this rant:

I received a phone call (message) from Apple saying that this issue had been forwarded up to their review team and that the issue would be reviewed. There was no promise on what the outcome would be, but it is very good to hear that Apple is stepping up to the plate on this and getting involved. Good for Apple!

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