Mobile software content rating system

Last updated

A mobile software content rating system is a rating system which is tailored to users of mobile software.

Contents

Comparison table

A comparison of current mobile software rating systems, showing age on the horizontal axis. Note however that the specific criteria used in assigning a classification can vary widely from one country/system to another. Thus a color code or age range cannot be directly compared from one country to another.

Key:

Explanations of specific ratings are available in corresponding articles.

Country/SystemAge ratingOther
0/12345678910111213141516171819
App Store 4+9+12+17+N/A
Google Play (IARC) 37121618N/A
ACB
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
GMR 18+N/A
PGMA 15+
ClassInd
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
L1012141618N/A
ESRB
Flag of the United States.svg USA
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico
EE10+TMAORP
EC
GRAC
Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea
ALL121519N/A
PEGI
Flag of Europe.svg Europe
Flag of Israel.svg Israel
37121618!
7121618
USK [1]
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
0612121618N/A
Country/System0/12345678910111213141516171819Other
Samsung Galaxy Store ALL4+12+15+18+N/A
Huawei AppGallery 3+7+12+16+18+N/A
Amazon Appstore All AgesMatureAdultN/A
Guidance Suggested
Blackberry World GTMAN/A
Common Sense Media N/A23456789101112131415161718Not Yet Rated
Country/System0/12345678910111213141516171819Other

Existing systems

App Store (iOS/iPadOS)

Apple's rating system for the App Store follows the following rubric: [2]

Apple rating 4+.svg
Apple rating 9+.svg
Apple rating 12+.svg
Apple rating 17+.svg
Apple App Store (iOS/iPadOS) rating logos

Apps rated 17+ are prohibited from purchase by younger users. [3]

Google Play

Up until March 17, 2015 Google Play used the following rubric: [4] [5]

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 continues applying their own ratings where applicable. [6] This includes Americas (except Brazil), where ESRB is imposed, Brazil with ClassInd, Europe and Israel with PEGI, Australia with ACB and South Korea with GRAC. However, a new Google Play Rating system is used exclusively in Russia and for non-gaming apps in South Korea. [7] These ratings include:

In Australia, IARC applies its own ratings for non-gaming apps. [7]

Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle

The Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) utilises the following age classifications: 0 (no restrictions), 6, 12, 16 and 18. Games rated 12 can be legally purchased from the age of 10. [1]

Samsung Galaxy Store

The ratings are, All Ages, 4+, 12+, 15+ and 18+. The 18+ rating is enforced and the rest are advisory.[ citation needed ]

Huawei AppGallery

Huawei AppGallery developed own rating system. Ratings are: 3+, 7+, 12+, 15+ and 18+ [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] [11]

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. [12] It was launched in 2011, with Apple and Google being notable abstentions from subscribing companies. [13]

Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media's rating scheme ranges from 2+ to 18+, in one-year increments.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Protecting Children and Young People" (PDF). Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2011.
  2. "Age ratings". Apple Inc. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  3. Masna, Aulia (17 July 2009). "App Store rating system raises questions". Macworld . Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  4. "Application Content Ratings". Google Inc.
  5. "Creating Better User Experiences on Google Play". Android Developers Blog. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  6. "About the International Age Rating Coalition". IARC. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  7. 1 2 Apps & Games content ratings on Google Play
  8. "AppGallery Rating system". Huawei Developers . Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  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.
  11. Evelyn, Alex. "Consideringapple" . Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  12. "CTIA Mobile Application Ratings System with ESRB". ESRB.
  13. Chris Velazco (November 29, 2011). "CTIA And ESRB Debut App Rating System, No Buy-In From Google Or Apple". Techcrunch.