Apple lets developers place ads in push notifications after opt-in
Apple will allow developers to show ads and promotions in push notifications. The company has adjusted the guidelines for the App Store for this. Such messages may only be sent with users’ consent.
The App Store policy updates were spotted by 9to5Mac. The guidelines state that developers may send notifications “for advertising, promotions and marketing purposes.” Until now, such reports have always been prohibited. However, there are still conditions for using such push notifications. They should not be indispensable for the app to work. Users must also have explicitly indicated that they want to see such push notifications via ‘consent language in the ui of the app’. Apple does not specify any rules for what that permission should look like. Developers should also provide an option to turn the ad notifications back off.
Apple is often criticized for its vague policy on promotional push notifications. For example, the company pushes notifications for its own services. For example, last year users were shown a notification containing an offer for a month of free Apple Music.
The new guidelines contain more obligations for developers. New apps must be built with the iOS SDk from April 30. By then, apps that offer third-party login methods from Google and Facebook, for example, should also offer Apple’s own Sign In With Apple. Apple also wants to take tougher action against dating apps and apps that supposedly predict the future. They must provide a “unique, high-quality experience” before they are allowed in the App Store.