Mobile software content rating system

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
System0/123456789101112131415161718+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 RP
EC
PEGI
 Europe
 India
 Israel
 Pakistan
 South Africa		 3 7 12 16 18 !
7 12 16 18
USK 0 6 12 12 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. 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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