Google is banning apps which place ads in the Android notification bar from the Google Play Store. That’s just one of the changes in the latest Google Play Developer Program policy update — but it’s one that could pretty much put at least one company out of business.

Airpush is an ad network which specializes in giving app developers tools to show ads in the Android notification area.

Airpush

The  move makes sense, since ads that show up when you’re not actually viewing an app can be confusing and annoying. It’s a little surprising it’s taken Google this long to enact the policy change. What remains to be seen is how long it’ll take for apps that already use Airpush-style ads to clean up their act. Theoretically existing apps have until September 23rd to comply, but it could take a while for Google to identify and remove any stragglers.

Apps can continue to show some types of ads via notifications, if they’re a key part of the service offered by the app. For instance, if you install a game or another app that includes in-app purchases and there’s a sale going on, a notification could be used to alert you to the promotion.

Google is also prohibiting apps which create homescreen shortcuts, browser bookmarks, or other links on your system for advertising purposes.

The new rules apply to Android apps which are distributed via the Google Play Store. There’s nothing stopping developers from continuing to make apps which place ads in the notification tray or on your home screen — but they’ll have to distribute them via other methods. Since the Google Play Store is by far the largest and most popular marketplace for Android apps, I suspect most developers will want their software to be available through that channel.

via reddit

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,545 other subscribers

8 replies on “Google bans apps with notification-style ads from the Play Store”

  1. This has been driving me nuts! My notification bar fills up with stupid ads, so it’s harder to monitor for important notifications like emails and such. Thank you Google!!!

  3. this is not good,conequences will come later…this mean that free apps will be reduced badly,this is bad guys,very bad

    1. People often uninstall the apps that use notification style ads after they’ve found even a paid alternative.
      They’re THAT MUCH of a nusiance

Comments are closed.