Google finally bans lockscreen ads from Play Store apps

By Mark Jansen December 1, 2017

google play lockscreen — Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re not the sort of person who drops money on paid versions of every app, then it’s pretty much impossible to have not come across an ad-supported app in your lifetime. For the most part, ads are a harmless nuisance that appears at the edge of whatever games you’re playing or app you’re using. You might click them, you might not, but they’re there anyway; your constant companion. They’re a fact of life.

Some unscrupulous advertisers, though, have been abusing this goodwill, and some users have found apps were now pushing ads straight to their lockscreen notification area. Android Police noted previously safe apps ES Explorer File Manager, Peel Universal Remote, and Hotspot Shield VPN were among others that had been updated to serve apps outside of the app itself, and thankfully, Google has now cracked down on that.

The updated ad policy is slightly more complicated than “no ads on the lockscreen,” but the general rule of thumb is advertisers are no longer allowed to serve adverts outside of the app’s direct remit. So if you’re a file explorer app, that means no lockscreen ads. If you’re an app that directly affects the lockscreen … well, you’re allowed to still serve ads there. It’s technically part of the app, and that’s what you signed up for when you downloaded it.

google ad policy — Image used with permission by copyright holder

This isn’t the first time Google has cracked down on annoying ad practices. Back in 2013, Google banned what were known as “Airpush” notifications; adverts that went straight to your notifications, whether you were in the app or not.

It’s clear that Google has been pushing this way for a while. Android 8.0 Oreo — for those on hardware that will receive the update — will come with features that allow the user even more control over which apps get access to their lockscreen, and simply won’t allow apps to access the lockscreen if they haven’t been allowed to. Android 6.0 Marshmallow was the first version of Google’s OS that gave users more complete control over which permissions apps got access to, and it’s clear Google is happy to continue walking down that path of user-friendliness.

Now the coast is clear, how’s about downloading some of our favorite Android apps, and Android games?

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

Mark Jansen is an avid follower of everything that beeps, bloops, or makes pretty lights. He has a degree in Ancient &…

Mobile

Google is finally fixing an annoying issue with its Pixel phones

A person holding the Google Pixel 8, showing the back of the phone.

When Android 7.0 Nougat arrived in 2016, Google introduced a new seamless update system that allowed users to keep using their devices while the update was installed in the background. Down the road, Google made it mandatory for all smartphone makers, and it's most prevalent on Google's own Pixel smartphones. But the system was not without its fault — even on the latest Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro devices.

Now, it seems like the latest Android 14 QPR update has considerably sped things up and fixed problems plaguing the whole update pipeline. What are seamless updates, though? It involves an A/B disk partition strategy, which ensures that you can keep using your phone while an update is installed in the background. The only time you'll notice something's up is when it reboots to switch to the updated version. After an update, rebooting your device is just as fast as a normal restart without much extra waiting.

Mobile

App developers get relief from Google tax in one of Android’s biggest markets

Tinder on the GooglePlay App Store.

Just over a week ago, Google was fined approximately $113 million in India for forcing its in-house billing system on developers making Android apps. While the fine was hefty in and of itself, the laundry list orders issued by the Competition Commission of India were the real concern for Google.

The company has now complied with the most controversial directive by removing the mandatory Google Play billing policy for in-app purchases made in India. In an official update, the company notes that it is “pausing enforcement of the requirement for developers to use Google Play's billing system for the purchase of digital goods and services for transactions.”
Why does it matter?

Mobile

Google overhauls its Family Link app for easier parental controls

Google Family Link app.

Google's Family Link app has been a great resource for parents looking to keep an eye on what their children are up to with their devices. Now, it's getting even better thanks to an app overhaul that puts the focus on safety and communication. While the Google Family Link app has previously been praised for its solid parental control settings, the redesign adds plenty of new features that make it easier than ever for parents to monitor smart device usage while keeping children informed about the parental control settings in place.

In addition to a design update that sorts the app into three main tabs (Highlights, Controls, and Location), there's also a laundry list of new features coming to Family Link. Since safety is a huge part of what makes the app appealing, features such as notification alerts when a device arrives at a specific destination (like school or a friend's house) and the ability to see an individual device's battery life are new additions that give parents peace of mind when their kids leave the house.