Google Is Trying To Clamp Down On Misleading Apps In The Play Store

An app listed in the Google Play Store should ideally just have its name. However, some developers have become a bit more creative in the way they name and list their apps, where they might use graphics in the app’s logo or emojis in the text to suggest that an app is “better” than the rest.

This can be rather misleading and could cause people to install the wrong apps, or in a worse case scenario, could trick users into installing malware or scam apps. So much so that Google is now cracking down on these types of app listing that use these types of tricks to try and promote themselves in the Play Store.

These new metadata policies will ban tricks such as using all-caps to write the name of the app, unless it’s a brand. It will also put a stop to lengthy app titles which will be limited to 30 characters, or putting terms like “Download now” or promoting deals by having the word “sale” in an app icon.

According to Google, “We are also announcing new store listing preview asset guidelines for the feature graphics, screenshots, videos, and short descriptions you supply to showcase your app’s features and functionality. Assets that don’t meet our guidelines may be ineligible for promotion and recommendation on major Google Play surfaces like Apps and Games home.” These changes aren’t live yet and Google is announcing it to give developers a heads up and time to make the necessary changes.

Filed in Cellphones. Read more about Android, Apps and Google. Source: android-developers.googleblog