Google to roll out content ratings for Android Market

Following a lead already set by the App Store, Google has announced it is preparing to equip Android Market with compulsory content ratings.

The new system is set to be rolled out over the course of December, with Google informing developers that any apps not categorised by studios will automatically be listed as 'mature'.

Mature matters

"Providing users with more information about applications on Android Market has been a top request from Android users," says Google's Eric Chu on the Android Developers Blog.

"This new capability will provide users with additional information to help them select the best applications for them."

Part of what Chu claims is a wider drive to improve the marketplace more than likely to get it up to speed with the launch of Android 2.3, better known as Gingerbread - Google has opted to split the apps between four content rating levels: all, pre-teen, teen and mature.

Initially, applying said ratings will be restricted to new additions to Android Market, although following on, studios will have a set number of weeks to track back and categorise their entire line up.

[source: Google]