page.title=Google Play for Families FAQ
meta.tags="families", "guidelines", "quality"
page.tags="families", "addendum"
page.metaDescription=Questions and answers about Designed for Families
@jd:body
<style>
dt {
font-weight:bold;
}
</style>
<div id="qv-wrapper">
<ol id="qv">
<h2>In this document</h2>
<ol>
<li><a href="#review">App Review and Opt-In</a></li>
<li><a href="#monetization">Monetization</a></li>
<li><a href="#other">Other Questions</a></li>
</ol>
</div>
<p>
The sections below provide more information about Designed for Families
and answer common questions that you might have about it.
</p>
<h2 id="review">App Review and Opt-In</h2>
<dl>
<dt>How do I opt-in my app(s)?</dt>
<dl>
<dd>
You can opt-in to Designed for Families on the Pricing and Distribution tab
for your app on the Google Play Developer Console. Here's a <a href=
"{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/families/start.html">step-by-step
walkthrough</a>.
</dd>
<dt>
Where do I disclose my app’s interactive features? Why are you collecting
this information?
</dt>
<dd>
Interactive feature disclosures are part of the content rating
questionnaire. You have an opportunity to review your disclosures as
part of the Designed for Families program opt-in flow. We collect this
information so that users can make informed choices when evaluating your
app.
</dd>
<dt>
What is COPPA?
</dt>
<dd>
COPPA is the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Child Online Privacy
Protection Rule. More details are available on the <a
href="http://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-coppa-frequently-asked-questions">
FTC's FAQ about COPPA</a>. Note that Google Play cannot provide legal guidance to developers
on how to comply with COPPA or other child statutes.
</dd>
<dt>
Do I need to provide an up-to-date privacy policy and where do I do that?
</dt>
<dd>
Yes, you need to provide a link to a persistent privacy policy on your
app’s store listing and confirm your compliance with local privacy statutes
in the Developer Console. To add or review your privacy policy, choose your
app in the Developer Console and then scroll to the bottom of the
<strong>Store Listing</strong> section.
</dd>
<dt>
If I distribute my apps globally, do I need to provide a translated version
of my privacy policy for each separate language APK?
</dt>
<dd>
No, you do not need to translate your privacy policy. However, if you
distribute your apps in a few select countries, it is advised that you do
translate your privacy policy.
</dd>
<dt>
How do I decide what age group to select?
</dt>
<dd>
Age groups are: Ages 5 & Under, Ages 6-8, and Ages 9-12. If you select one of these
age groups, your content must be appropriate for children in the age ranges. You may
select the General Audience category only select if your app targets both children
under 13 and adults.
</dd>
<dt>
What will be different about my app if I select the General Audience category?
</dt>
<dd>
There is not a dedicated section for General Audience apps within the family sections.
In addition, you can use Google+ Sign-in or Google Play Game Services as an optional
feature, but child users must be able to access the app or game in its entirety
without signing into Google+ or Google Play Games Service.
</dd>
<dt>
How many age groups can I select?
</dt>
<dd>
You can select up to two adjacent age groups only if your app is appropriate for
multiple age groups.
</dd>
<dt>
How many content categories can I select in the Designed for Families
program?
</dt>
<dd>
You can select one category as part of the Designed for Families program
and another category for the general Google Play store.
</dd>
<dt>
What are the Designed for Families categories?
</dt>
<ul>
<li><strong>Action & Adventure</strong>: These are action-oriented apps/games and include everything
from racing games, fairy tale adventures, and more.
</li>
<li style="list-style: none"><strong>Brain Games</strong>: This category includes games that
make the user think and includes puzzles, matching games, and similar
games.
</li>
<li><strong>Creativity</strong>: These are apps/games that spur creativity.
Example types of apps/games we expect in this category include drawing,
painting, and other games where you can build things.
</li>
<li><strong>Education</strong>: These are apps/games that have educational value and include
math, science, learning the alphabet, learning to count, and many more types of
educational content like geography and history.
</li>
<li><strong>Music and Video</strong>: These are apps/games that contain a musical element or
video component and include everything from playing the
piano to watching videos and more.
</li>
<li><strong>Pretend Play</strong>: These are apps/games where one can pretend to take on a
role, like pretending to be a cook or a doctor.
</li>
</ul>
<dl>
<dt>
Will it take longer for my app to get published if I opt-in to the Designed
for Families program?
</dt>
<dd>
When you opt-in to Designed for Families, Google Play reviews your app to
confirm that it is appropriate for families. Assuming your app complies with all program
requirements, we expect that publishing time should not take any longer
than normal; however, there may be a delay in publishing the app if it is
rejected during the Designed for Families review.
</dd>
<dt>
What happens if my app is rejected from the Designed for Families program?
</dt>
<dd>
If your app is rejected from the Designed for Families program, we’ll
indicate why in the Developer Console and in a detailed email. You’ll have
an opportunity to correct the issues and resubmit your app to the program,
or change your opt-in response. Note that if you have an existing app that
is live on Google Play, only your app update will be rejected (your app
will remain live on the Play store). If you’ve submitted a new app to the
Designed for Families program that does not meet the requirements, your
entire app submission will be rejected and the app will not be published on
Play. You can then address the identified issue(s) and resubmit the app for
the Designed for Families program or opt-out of the program.
</dd>
<dt>
What happens if my app is found to be non-compliant with Designed for
Families program requirements after it has been published?
</dt>
<dd>
Your app may be removed or suspended from the Google Play Store, not only
the Designed for Families program. Removed apps can follow the same
remedies as rejected apps. Suspended apps can be appealed using the
developer appeal process.
</dd>
<dt>
If I opt-in to the Designed for Families program, can I opt-out later on?
</dt>
<dd>
Yes, you may opt-out of the program at any time. Please note that by opting
out you would lose your placement in the new family-friendly experience as
well as the other benefits of the program.
</dd>
<dt>
What happens when I update my app after it has been accepted into the
program?
</dt>
<dd>
Apps that are part of the Designed for Families program need to maintain
compliance with the eligibility requirements at all times. If you need to
edit the Designed for Families metadata associated with your app, please go
to the Pricing & Distribution section of the Google Play Developer Console
to edit this information. If updating your app results in you changing your
target audience, we recommend that you alert the users who already
have your app installed.
</dd>
<dt>
Can apps and games that use Google sign-in or Google Play Game
services opt-into the Designed for Families program?
</dt>
<dd>
Apps that participate in Designed for Families that are wholly
child-focused, i.e. that target the following age groups: Ages 5 & Under,
Ages 6 to 8, or Ages 9 to 12 <strong>may not</strong> use Google+ Sign-in
or Google Play Game services as the login experience for their
application.
<p>
Apps that participate in Designed for Families that target both children and
older audiences, can use Google+ Sign-in or Google Play Game services as an
<strong>optional</strong> feature. Child users must be able to access the app
or game in its entirety without signing into Google+ or Google Play Game services.
</p>
</dd>
<dt>
My app is opted-in to Google Play for Education and has Google sign-in integration
so that students can login with their school accounts. Do I need to change the way
Google sign-in works in my app?
</dt>
<dd>
Apps that participate in Google Play for Education may use Google sign-in for
student accounts as long as it is not a blocking requirement for all users of the app.
</dd>
</dl>
<h2 id="monetization">
Designed for Families Program Monetization
</h2>
<dl>
<dt>
Are ads allowed? Can you give me more details on the advertising policies for Designed for
Families?
</dt>
<dd>
Yes, ads are allowed as long as the adhere to the <a href=
"https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6184502#ads">
ads policy for Designed for Families</a>.
</dd>
<dt>
Can my app serve interstitial advertisements?
</dt>
<dd>
Interstitial ads may be appropriate for some apps. However, a user must be
able to navigate to the main activity before any ads are served.
</dd>
<dt>
What about full page ads?
</dt>
<dd>
You may use full page ads as long as the ad can be dismissed without the user having to
interact with it in other ways.
<dt>
Am I allowed to use house/first party ads and product placements within my app?
</dt>
<dd>
House ads are allowed, but they must comply with <a
href="https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6184502#ads">ads policies</a>.
</dd>
<dt>
How do I know that my ad network complies with the advertising
policies for Designed for Families?
</dt>
<dd>
Please contact your advertising network to ask them about their content policies
and advertising practices. If you use AdMob, then please refer to the <a href=
"https://support.google.com/admob/answer/3248194">AdMob help center</a> for
details on how to tag your app or a specific ad unit for child-directed
treatment. It is the developer’s responsibility to ensure that the overall
user experience with in-app advertising meets the <a href=
"https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6184502">Designed
for Families program requirements</a>.
</dd>
<dt>
Can I have in-app purchases in my app?
</dt>
<dd>
There are no specific restrictions relating to in-app purchases (IAP) in
apps participating in the Designed for Families program other than
compliance with the <a href=
"https://play.google.com/intl/ALL_us/about/families/developer-distribution-agreement-addendum.html">
Designed for Families DDA</a> and other applicable legal requirements, but
Play reserves the right to reject apps for overly aggressive commercial
tactics. Google Play will enforce IAP password protection on all apps
participating in the Designed for Families program that primarily target
child audiences to ensure that parents, not children, are approving
purchases. Please note that this treatment does not extend to apps
targeting general audiences.
</dd>
</dl>
<h2 id="other">
Other Questions
</h2>
<dl>
<dt>
Who is the intended target audience for participating Designed for Families
apps?
</dt>
<dd>
Our goal is to provide a great experience on the Google Play store for
parents and guardians to discover delightful apps designed for kids and
families from trusted brands and developers.
</dd>
<dt>
Is the Designed for Families Program only available to developers in
certain countries?
</dt>
<dd>
Designed for Families is a global program.
</dd>
<dt>
What happens to apps that are published in the current Family Games
category?
</dt>
<dd>
The current Family Games category will be deprecated in May 2015. Apps
currently in the Family Games category will have to select
a different category in the Play store. Apps that have not selected another
category will be assigned to the Casual Games category.
</dd>
<dt>
How can users find character pages?
</dt>
<dd>
Character pages are found through the “Popular Characters” tab within each of
the verticals. They can also be accessed from character-specific badges on details
pages of character content.
</dd>
</dl>
<div class="paging-links" style="padding-top:.75em;">
<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EtvUWqlkxS6RxHJjeI-3-7uzdbIZx6n9Cocy2D369B8/viewform" class=
"next-class-link">Next: Stay in Touch</a>
</div>