Take A Plunge

There is a new restriction applied to Apple’s App Store: no more applications with “overtly sexual content”. The exact nature of that ban is unclear, but it may seem as a warning for the developers even those whose applications have nothing to do with sexy content.

There are many applications that have been pulled from the App Store which featured sexual content, but there are still plenty of apps that have names like “Magic Boobs”.

Has Apple decided to put the ban because of customer complaints? Are they restricting only apps that has got user complaints or they are blocking every app with sexual content?

Many of the “sexy” applications were little more than spam, which often featured titillating titles, a handful of sexy photos, and little else. It’s in a way it’s true that the quality of the apps in the App Store will increase due to the restriction.

What is disturbing then?

Initially “sexy” applications were blocked by Apple at one point until. Then Apple specifically changed its policies to begin letting them in. It also lifted the ban on words like “Boobs” and “Booty.”

It also started allowing humor apps like like iFart and Pull My Finger, as well as an NC-17 rating for adult applications. Then it loosened up the restriction and in the last year, it started allowing more and more sexy applications.

Now Apple has taken the opposite direction. Apple now throws out apps created by developers after spending lots of time and money, without even bothering to give them advance notice. It’s difficult when your app is thrown out when you have thousands of downloads and users.

A few questions-

Is Apple going to start blocking apps like Qik if it builds its own live streaming service? Are iFart’s days numbered? Could Apple simply ban all NC-17 rated applications because too many parents complain?

Another point is censorship. App Store includes a huge number of content in music, video, applications, and soon, books and magazines. Apple is now one of the world’s largest gatekeepers to content, with a store that encompasses music, video, applications, and soon, books and magazines. And if it starts censorship, then that will a big problem for both the developers and the users.