In April, Google finally began to veto the anarchy and spam that was forming in the names of apps and developers on Google Play. They then announced the imminent change in policies against misleading names on Google Play. Now Google has announced when this rule will go into effect: September 29.
As of September 29, Google will ban the use of spam in text and graphics in names, icons, and developer names in Google Play. Part of these changes will involve reverting to the maximum length of 30 characters for application names.
Spam will stop
Little by little, Google Play has become the Wild West, with very little control and apps with extraordinary claims that are simply a lie. As if that wasn’t enough, in 2017 Google increased the maximum size of the 30-50 character application names. The result was predictable: apps that have mileage names plus a lot of extras that aren’t really the app name.
In April, Google decided to veto a series of measures aimed at curbing these abusive practices. The name of the application has been reduced to a maximum of 30 characters, the use of words implying their ranking, price or other details in the names has been prohibited
Examples of apps with emojis in their names
Likewise, misleading elements have been prohibited in icons, the use of capital letters unless it is the official brand name and, probably to the joy of many, the use of emojis and emoticons has been banned
The changes also affect screenshots that developers download to illustrate their application or game. Google wants them to represent the application in a way that is faithful to the game, that they offer enough information to the user to decide whether they want to install it or not and that they want to avoid using words like “Free” or “The best …” in them.
All of these measures were announced in the form of a notice in April, with a view to their application from the second half of 2021. Now Google has announced the entry into force of several policy changes, including these. It will come into force on September 29, to the joy of many.
Via | Android Police
