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Tag Archives: Google Play
Google's guide to a festive Lunar New Year celebration.
Helping users find trusted apps on Google Play
Posted by JJ Zou – Product Manager , and Scott Lin – Product Manager
Posted by
At Google Play, we're committed to empowering you with the tools and resources you need to build successful and secure apps that users can rely on. That's why we're introducing a new way to recognize VPN apps that go above and beyond to protect their users: a "Verified" badge for consumer-facing VPN apps.
This new badge is designed to highlight apps that prioritize user privacy and safety, help users make more informed choices about the VPN apps they use, and build confidence in the apps they ultimately download. This badge complements existing features such as the Google Play Store banner for VPNs and Data Safety section declaration in the Play Store.
Build user trust with more transparency
Earning the VPN badge isn't just about checking a box— it's proof that your VPN app invests in app safety. This badge signifies that your app has gone above and beyond, adhering to the Play safety and security guidelines and successfully completed a Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2 validation.
The VPN badge helps your app stand out in a crowded marketplace. Once awarded, the badge is prominently displayed on your app’s details page and in search results. Additionally, we have built new surfaces to showcase verified VPN applications.
Demonstrating commitment to security and safety
We're excited to share insights from some of our partners who have already earned the VPN badge and are leading the way in building a safe and trusted Google Play ecosystem. Learn how partners like Nord, hide.me, and Aloha are using the badge and implementing best practices for user security:
Nord
“We’re excited that the new ‘Verified’ badge will help users easily identify VPNs that meet high standards for security and privacy. In a market where trust is key, this badge not only provides reassurance to customers, but also highlights the integrity of developers committed to delivering secure and reliable products.”
hide.me
“Privacy and user safety are fundamental to our VPN's architecture. The MASA program has been valuable in validating our security practices and maintaining high standards. This accreditation provides independent verification of our commitment to protecting user privacy.”
Aloha Browser
“The certification process is well-organized and accessible to any company. If your product is developed with security as a core focus, passing the required audits should not pose any difficulty. We regularly conduct third-party audits and have been active participants in the MASA program since its inception. Additionally, it fosters discipline in your development practices, knowing that regular re-certification is required. Ultimately, it’s the end user who benefits the most—a secure and satisfied user is the ultimate goal for every app developer.”
Getting your App Badge-Ready
To take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your app's profile and attract more users, learn more about the specific criteria and start the validation process today.
To be considered for the "Verified" badge, your VPN app needs to:
- Complete a Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2 validation
- Have an Organization developer account type
- Meet target API level requirements for Google Play apps
- Have at least 10,000 installs and 250 reviews
- Be published on Google Play for at least 90 days
- Submit a Data Safety section declaration, opting into:
- Independent security review, under ‘Additional badges’
- Encryption in transit
Note: This list is not exhaustive and doesn't fully represent all the criteria used to display the badge. While other factors contribute to the evaluation, fulfilling these requirements significantly increases your chances of seeing your VPN app “Verified.”
Join us in our mission to create a safer and more transparent Google Play ecosystem. We're here to support you with the tools and resources you need to build trusted apps.
Source: Android Developers Blog
Celebrating Another Year of #WeArePlay
Posted by Robbie McLachlan – Developer Marketing
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This year #WeArePlay took us on a journey across the globe, spotlighting 300 people behind apps and games on Google Play. From a founder whose app uses AI to assist visually impaired people to a game where nimble-fingered players slice flying fruits and use special combos to beat their own high score, we met founders transforming ideas into thriving businesses.
Let’s start by taking a look back at the people featured in our global film series. From a mother and son duo preserving African languages, to a founder whose app helps kids become published authors - check out the full playlist.
We also continued our global tour around the world with:
- 153 new stories from the United States like Ashley’s Get Mom Strong, which gives access to rehabilitation and fitness plans to help moms heal and get strong after childbirth
- 49 new stories from Japan like Toshiya’s Mirairo ID, an app that empowers the disabled community by digitizing disability certificates
- 50 new stories from Australia, including apps like Tristan’s Bushfire.io, which supports communities during natural disasters
And we released global collections of 36 stories, each with a theme reflecting the diversity of the app and game community on Google Play, including:
- LGBTQ+ founders creating safe spaces and fostering representation
- Women founders breaking barriers and building impactful businesses
- Creators turning personal passions—such as fitness, mental health, or creativity—into inspiring apps
- Founders building sports apps and games that bring players, fans, and communities together
To the global community of app and game founders, thank you for sharing your inspiring journey. As we enter 2025, we look forward to discovering even more stories of the people behind games and apps businesses on Google Play.
Source: Android Developers Blog
#WeArePlay | Meet the people building sport apps and games
Posted by Robbie McLachlan – Developer Marketing
Hao, Yukun and Mingming, co-founders of Feamber Games Chengdu, China
Anna, founder of Boxx London, UK
Yi Hern, co-founder of JomRun Cyberjaya, Malaysia
Ohjun and Jaeho, co-founders of SUNCYAN Seoul, South Korea
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In a year filled with iconic sports moments—from the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris to the UEFA Euro Cup in Germany—our celebration of app and game businesses continues with nine new #WeArePlay stories. These founders are building sports apps and games that unite players, fans, and communities—from immersive sports simulations to apps that motivate runners with rewards like vouchers and free gifts.
Let’s take a look at some of my favourites.
Immerse yourself into your favourite sport with Hao, Yukun, and Mingming's simulator games
Hao always dreamed of creating video games. After studying computer science, he joined a gaming company where he met Yukun and Mingming. Their shared passion for game design and long conversations about graphics, movie scenes, and nostalgic childhood games inspired them to start Feamber Games. Specializing in realistic 3D sports simulations like pool and archery, they’ve added competitive elements to enhance the experience. Recently, they’ve expanded into immersive games that let players build business empires and manage hotels. Now, the trio is focused on growing their global audience.
Anna’s boxing fitness app is a knockout, with tailored training and on-demand classes
Anna discovered her love for boxing at 11, staying dedicated to non-contact training throughout adulthood. After a career in accounting and becoming a mother, she struggled to attend classes, inspiring her to create Boxx – an app that brings boxing training to any location. Collaborating with fitness instructors, she developed personalized sessions, hybrid workouts, expert-led on-demand classes, and progress tracking. With hands-free guided audio and community features coming soon, Anna is regularly reviewing feedback to find innovative approaches to improve boxers’ experiences.
Get active and track your progress with Yi Hern, Dana, and Pearl's running app
After creating a successful augmented reality game, childhood friends Yi Hern, Dana, and Pearl decided to inspire people to stay active. Combining Yi Hern's engineering skills, Dana's visual arts expertise, and Pearl's scientific background, they developed JomRun – Let’s Run. The app allows runners to track their progress, earn rewards like vouchers and free gifts, and easily join marathons. With teams in Malaysia and Singapore, and plans to introduce new features, the trio is gearing up to expand across Southeast Asia.
Ohjun and Jaeho’s volleyball game get high scores from players worldwide
Ohjun and Jaeho, childhood friends from an online game development community, combined their love for game building and volleyball to create The Spike - Volleyball Story. After a successful test release on Google Play, the game gained popularity in South Korea, inspiring them to improve it and reach a global audience. They added new features like story and tournament modes, plus a complete UX overhaul, all to recreate the excitement of real-life volleyball. Now, they’re focused on creating even more thrilling sports games.
Source: Android Developers Blog
Notes from Google Play: The next phase of Play
Posted by Sam Bright – VP & GM, Google Play + Developer Ecosystem
Features like quality panel help you proactively find and address issues before you launch, helping you have a smooth and successful experience
App highlights is one of our latest AI-powered features making it easier for users to discover their next favorite apps.
Flexible payment plans give users more options throughout the purchase experience, helping drive higher conversions and new subscribers for your app
Posted by Sam Bright – VP & GM, Google Play + Developer Ecosystem
Hello everyone,
Thank you for making this year another incredible one! Your innovative experiences continue to inspire us and bring joy to billions. We recently celebrated some of your amazing work in our Best of 2024 awards, showcasing moments of delight across phones, large-screen devices, watches, and PCs.
This year, we shared our vision for the next phase of Play where Play leans into being more than a store and becomes a dynamic platform that connects people with your content, when and where they need it most. To help people discover all you have to offer, truly engage with your experiences, and keep them coming back for more, we’re making Play:
- A destination for discovery: Helping people find their new favorite apps and games and the content within
- The best place for gaming: So people can play more of the games they love across more surfaces, with exclusive rewards available only through Play Points, and
- Go beyond the store: Where people can get relevant content from installed apps directly on their home screen through our new Collections experience
New tools and features built in 2024
Launch with confidence
Launching a new app or update is a critical moment and we want to make this process as smooth and successful as possible.
- Pre-review checks help you catch policy and compatibility issues before launch.
- The new quality panel gives you a centralized view of your app's quality so you can proactively find and address issues like crashes and ANRs, and see recommendations related to user experience.
- And with SDK Console, we’re connecting you with SDK owners who can alert you in Android Studio and Play Console when new versions may address quality issues or help your app or game comply with Play policies.
Accelerate your growth and deepen your engagement with users
We've made Google Play even more content-forward with a visually engaging design that helps people discover the best of what you have to offer, wherever they are.
- We integrated Gemini models to make it easier for everyone to find what they're looking for with AI-generated app review summaries, FAQs, and app highlights, providing key information at a glance.
- Seamless app discovery helps users enjoy amazing experiences across their devices. Now, when people search for apps on their phone, they'll easily discover and install relevant apps for their TV, watch, and more.
- Enhanced custom store listings give you even more ways to tailor your content. And now, with the ability to segment by search keyword, you can connect with users who are actively searching for the specific benefits your app offers. Play Console will even give you keyword suggestions.
- Deep links help you create seamless web-to-app journeys to take users directly to the content they want, right inside your app. And now, we’ve made it even easier for you to manage and experiment with these deep links in Play Console, where you can make quick changes without waiting to publish a new app release.
Optimize revenue with Google Play Commerce
We're continuing to make it easier and more convenient for over 2.5 billion users in over 190 markets to have seamless and secure purchase experiences.
- This year, we've helped over half a billion people be ready to make purchases by proactively encouraging them to set up payment and authentication methods in advance. With new secure biometric authentication options like fingerprint and facial recognition, checkout is now faster and more secure.
- Our extensive payment method library, which includes over 300 local forms of payment in more than 65 markets, continues to grow. This year, we added CashApp (US), Blik Banking (Poland), Pix (Brazil), and MoMo (Vietnam).
- Expanded payment options give more ways for users to pay for content. Parents with Google Family setup can now approve their child's in-app purchases from any OS, not just on Android devices.
- And new subscription platform improvements, like flexible payment plans for long-term subscriptions, give users more options throughout the purchase experience, which helps drive higher conversions and new subscribers.
Reinforcing trust, safety, and security
We continue to invest in more ways to protect users, your business, and the ecosystem. This includes actively combating bad actors who try to deceive users or spread malware, and giving you tools to combat abuse.
- Google Play Protect scans 200 billion apps daily. When it finds a potentially harmful app, we let people know and may even disable particularly dangerous apps.
- Easier automatic app updates help ensure users have the latest features and improved security. Users with limited Wi-Fi access have the option to get their app updates over mobile data, and within their data budgets. We also launched a new tool that empowers you to prompt users for timely updates.
- Play Integrity API helps you detect suspicious activity so you can decide how to respond to abuse, like fraud, cheating, or data theft. Now, Play integrity verdicts are faster, more resilient, and more privacy-friendly.
These are just the highlights. To see how we're continuously improving the experience, check out our quarterly roundup of programs and launches on The Latest.
Investing in our app and game community
We’re continuing to help app and game businesses of all sizes reach their full potential.
- This year, we’ve doubled the size of our global Indie Games Accelerator program and selected 60 game studios from around the world to participate in a 10-week program of masterclasses, workshops, and access to industry experts.
- Ten studios from across Latin America were selected to receive a share of $2 million in equity-free funding and hands-on guidance from the Google Play team as part of our Indie Games Fund.
- 500 aspiring developers in Indonesia participated in our Google Play x Unity Game Developer Training Program to build top-notch skills in game design, development, and monetization to kick-start their game development careers.
- And the ChangGoo initiative in Korea has nurtured a thriving startup ecosystem, supporting over 500 startups and attracting over KRW 147.6 billion in investments.
And with another year of #WeArePlay, we shared and celebrated the stories of 300 app and game businesses from all over the world. Take a look back at just a few of the inspiring founders we’ve featured.
Looking ahead
I’m excited about the future of Google Play as a dynamic platform that connects users with your amazing content, wherever they are.
Next year, we're going to continue helping you maximize your investments on Play by:
- Leaning into content-rich and interactive experiences for apps both within and beyond the Play store,
- Building on our gaming destination to make it even more personalized, engaging, and part of daily routines, and,
- Simplifying the payment and checkout experience for your apps and content.
Thanks again for your continued partnership and the innovation you’ve put into your apps and games. From our team to yours, happy holidays and best wishes for an amazing 2025!
Sam Bright
VP & GM, Google Play + Developer Ecosystem
Source: Android Developers Blog
Four Tips to Help You Build High-Quality, Engaging, and Age-Appropriate Apps
Posted by Mindy Brooks – Senior Director, Android Platform
Posted by Mindy Brooks – Senior Director, Android Platform
App developers play a vital role in shaping how people of all ages interact with technology. Whether your app content is specifically designed for kids or simply attracts their attention, there is an added responsibility to ensure a safe and trusted experience. Google is here to support you in that work. Today, we’re sharing some important reminders and updates on how we empower developers to build high-quality, engaging, and age-appropriate apps across the Android ecosystem.
Help Determine Android User Age with Digital IDs
Understanding a user's age range can be critical for providing minors with safer and more appropriate app experiences, as well as complying with local age-related regulations. Android’s new Credential Manager API, now in Beta, addresses this challenge by helping developers verify a user’s age with a digital ID saved to any digital wallet application. Importantly, Android’s Credential Manager was built with both safety and privacy at its core – it minimizes data exposure by only sharing information necessary with developers and asks the user for explicit permission to share an age signal. We encourage you to try out the Beta API for yourself and look forward to hearing your feedback.
While digital IDs are still in their early days, we’re continuing to work with governments on further adoption to strengthen this solution. Android is also exploring how the API can support a range of age assurance methods, helping developers to safely confirm the age of their users, especially for users that can't or don't want to use a digital ID. Please keep in mind that ID-based solutions are just one tool that developers can use to determine age and the best approach will depend on your app.
Shield Young Users from Inappropriate Content on Google Play
As part of our continued commitment to creating a safe and positive environment for children across the Play Store, we recently launched the Restrict Declared Minors (RDM) setting within the Google Play Console that allows developers to designate their app as inappropriate for minors. When enabled, Google Play users with declared ages below 18 will not be able to download or purchase the app nor will they be able to continue subscriptions or make new purchases if the app is already installed.
Beyond Play’s broader kids safety policies, this new setting gives developers an additional tool to proactively prevent minors from accessing content that may be unsuitable for them. It also empowers developers to take a more proactive role in ensuring their apps reach the appropriate audience. As a reminder, this feature is simply one tool of many to keep your apps safe and we are continuing to improve it based on early feedback. Developers remain solely responsible for compliance with relevant laws and regulations. You can learn more about opting in to RDM here.
Develop Teacher Approved Apps and Games on Google Play
Great content for kids can take many forms, whether that’s sparking curiosity, helping kids learn, or just plain fun. Google Play’s Teacher Approved program highlights high-quality apps that are reviewed and rated by teachers and child development specialists. Our team of teachers and experts across the world review and rate apps on factors like age-appropriateness, quality of experience, enrichment, and delight. For added transparency, we include information in the app listing about why the app was rated highly to help parents determine if the app is right for their child. Apps in the program also must meet strict privacy and security requirements.
Building a teacher-approved app not only helps raise app quality for kids – it can also increase your reach and engagement. All apps in this program are eligible to appear and be featured on Google Play's Kids tab where families go to easily discover quality apps and games. Please visit Google Play Academy for more information about how to design high-quality apps for kids.
Stay Updated With Google Play’s Families Policies
Google Play policies provide additional protections for children and families. Our Families policies require that apps and games targeted to children have appropriate content, show ads suitable for children, and meet other requirements including ones related to personally identifiable information. We frequently update and strengthen these policies to ensure that Google Play remains a place where families can find safe and high-quality content for their children. This includes our new Child Safety Standards Policy for social and dating apps that goes into effect in January.
Developers can showcase compliance with Play’s Families policies with a special badge on the Google Play Data safety section. This is another great way that you can better help families find apps that meet their needs, while supporting Play’s commitment to provide users more transparency and control over their data. To display the badge, please visit the "Security practices" section of your Data Safety form in your Google Play Developer Console.
Additional Resources
Protecting kids online is a responsibility we all share and we hope these reminders are helpful as you prepare for 2025. We’re grateful for your partnership in making Android and Google Play fantastic platforms for delightful, high-quality content for kids and families. For more resources:
- Learn more about Android’s Credential Manager API.
- Watch our interactive Play Academy courses on complying with Play’s Families policies, including SDK requirements, selecting your target age and content settings, and more.
- Review the updated Child Safety Standards Policy ahead of the January deadline.
Source: Android Developers Blog
Four Tips to Help You Build High-Quality, Engaging, and Age-Appropriate Apps
Posted by Mindy Brooks – Senior Director, Android Platform
App developers play a vital role in shaping how people of all ages interact with technology. Whether your app content is specifically designed for kids or simply attracts their attention, there is an added responsibility to ensure a safe and trusted experience. Google is here to support you in that work. Today, we’re sharing some important reminders and updates on how we empower developers to build high-quality, engaging, and age-appropriate apps across the Android ecosystem.
Help Determine Android User Age with Digital IDs
Understanding a user's age range can be critical for providing minors with safer and more appropriate app experiences, as well as complying with local age-related regulations. Android’s new Credential Manager API, now in Beta, addresses this challenge by helping developers verify a user’s age with a digital ID saved to any digital wallet application. Importantly, Android’s Credential Manager was built with both safety and privacy at its core – it minimizes data exposure by only sharing information necessary with developers and asks the user for explicit permission to share an age signal. We encourage you to try out the Beta API for yourself and look forward to hearing your feedback.
While digital IDs are still in their early days, we’re continuing to work with governments on further adoption to strengthen this solution. Android is also exploring how the API can support a range of age assurance methods, helping developers to safely confirm the age of their users, especially for users that can't or don't want to use a digital ID. Please keep in mind that ID-based solutions are just one tool that developers can use to determine age and the best approach will depend on your app.
Shield Young Users from Inappropriate Content on Google Play
As part of our continued commitment to creating a safe and positive environment for children across the Play Store, we recently launched the Restrict Declared Minors (RDM) setting within the Google Play Console that allows developers to designate their app as inappropriate for minors. When enabled, Google Play users with declared ages below 18 will not be able to download or purchase the app nor will they be able to continue subscriptions or make new purchases if the app is already installed.
Beyond Play’s broader kids safety policies, this new setting gives developers an additional tool to proactively prevent minors from accessing content that may be unsuitable for them. It also empowers developers to take a more proactive role in ensuring their apps reach the appropriate audience. As a reminder, this feature is simply one tool of many to keep your apps safe and we are continuing to improve it based on early feedback. Developers remain solely responsible for compliance with relevant laws and regulations. You can learn more about opting in to RDM here.
Develop Teacher Approved Apps and Games on Google Play
Great content for kids can take many forms, whether that’s sparking curiosity, helping kids learn, or just plain fun. Google Play’s Teacher Approved program highlights high-quality apps that are reviewed and rated by teachers and child development specialists. Our team of teachers and experts across the world review and rate apps on factors like age-appropriateness, quality of experience, enrichment, and delight. For added transparency, we include information in the app listing about why the app was rated highly to help parents determine if the app is right for their child. Apps in the program also must meet strict privacy and security requirements.
Building a teacher-approved app not only helps raise app quality for kids – it can also increase your reach and engagement. All apps in this program are eligible to appear and be featured on Google Play's Kids tab where families go to easily discover quality apps and games. Please visit Google Play Academy for more information about how to design high-quality apps for kids.
Stay Updated With Google Play’s Families Policies
Google Play policies provide additional protections for children and families. Our Families policies require that apps and games targeted to children have appropriate content, show ads suitable for children, and meet other requirements including ones related to personally identifiable information. We frequently update and strengthen these policies to ensure that Google Play remains a place where families can find safe and high-quality content for their children. This includes our new Child Safety Standards Policy for social and dating apps that goes into effect in January.
Developers can showcase compliance with Play’s Families policies with a special badge on the Google Play Data safety section. This is another great way that you can better help families find apps that meet their needs, while supporting Play’s commitment to provide users more transparency and control over their data. To display the badge, please visit the "Security practices" section of your Data Safety form in your Google Play Developer Console.
Additional Resources
Protecting kids online is a responsibility we all share and we hope these reminders are helpful as you prepare for 2025. We’re grateful for your partnership in making Android and Google Play fantastic platforms for delightful, high-quality content for kids and families. For more resources:
- Learn more about Android’s Credential Manager API.
- Watch our interactive Play Academy courses on complying with Play’s Families policies, including SDK requirements, selecting your target age and content settings, and more.
- Review the updated Child Safety Standards Policy ahead of the January deadline.
Source: Android Developers Blog
#WeArePlay | Tentang Anak connects parents to experts across Indonesia
Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing
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Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing
In our latest film for #WeArePlay, which celebrates the people behind apps and games, we meet Mesty and Garri - the husband and wife duo who created Tentang Anak. Their app helps parents across Indonesia navigate their parenting journey with confidence: with a focus on child health, growth tracking, and providing accessible expert consultations.
What inspired you to create Tentang Anak?
Mesty: I saw so much misinformation about child health and parenting, especially in Indonesia where there’s a huge gap between the number of pediatricians and children. I wanted to provide parents with reliable, accessible information that could help them raise healthy, well-rounded children, allowing them to feel confident and calm in their parenting journey.
Garri: For me, it was about seeing the need for a one-stop solution for parents. Everything was scattered—pregnancy, growth tracking, expert advice—and I realized we could create something that brings it all together in one place. I wanted to build a platform that supported parents, especially in remote areas, with everything they need to raise their kids with confidence.
How does Tentang Anak ensure that the expert advice is both accurate and accessible to parents in remote areas of Indonesia?
Mesty: We make sure to partner with a team of highly qualified pediatricians, psychologists, and child development experts to ensure our advice is accurate and up-to-date.
Garri: Exactly, staying current with the latest research and best practices is crucial. Misinformation can have a huge impact, especially when it comes to child health. Parents often turn to social media or unverified sources for answers, which can lead to confusion or even harm. By partnering with qualified experts and constantly updating our content, we make sure that parents get accurate, reliable, and timely advice. This is especially important in remote areas where access to healthcare professionals can be limited.
How has Google Play supported Tentang Anak?
Garri: Google Play has provided us with the tools and support to optimize our app's performance and engagement. From using Google’s analytics and A/B testing to improve the user experience, to the seamless distribution through the Play Store, Google has been a key partner in scaling Tentang Anak and making sure parents across Indonesia can access the app.
What is next for Tentang Anak?
Mesty: We’re focused on expanding our reach across Indonesia, ensuring that more parents, especially in remote areas, have access to the support and resources they need. We’re also enhancing our app with more interactive features to keep parents engaged and informed.
Garri: At the same time, we’re expanding our offerings with products for children, including children's books, vitamins, and skincare. Our goal is to make Tentang Anak the go-to platform and brand for all things parenting in Indonesia, and we’re excited to see how we can grow and help even more families.
Discover more global #WeArePlay stories and share your favorites.
Source: Android Developers Blog
#WeArePlay | Tentang Anak connects parents to experts across Indonesia
Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing
How useful did you find this blog post?
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
In our latest film for #WeArePlay, which celebrates the people behind apps and games, we meet Mesty and Garri - the husband and wife duo who created Tentang Anak. Their app helps parents across Indonesia navigate their parenting journey with confidence: with a focus on child health, growth tracking, and providing accessible expert consultations.
What inspired you to create Tentang Anak?
Mesty: I saw so much misinformation about child health and parenting, especially in Indonesia where there’s a huge gap between the number of pediatricians and children. I wanted to provide parents with reliable, accessible information that could help them raise healthy, well-rounded children, allowing them to feel confident and calm in their parenting journey.
Garri: For me, it was about seeing the need for a one-stop solution for parents. Everything was scattered—pregnancy, growth tracking, expert advice—and I realized we could create something that brings it all together in one place. I wanted to build a platform that supported parents, especially in remote areas, with everything they need to raise their kids with confidence.
How does Tentang Anak ensure that the expert advice is both accurate and accessible to parents in remote areas of Indonesia?
Mesty: We make sure to partner with a team of highly qualified pediatricians, psychologists, and child development experts to ensure our advice is accurate and up-to-date.
Garri: Exactly, staying current with the latest research and best practices is crucial. Misinformation can have a huge impact, especially when it comes to child health. Parents often turn to social media or unverified sources for answers, which can lead to confusion or even harm. By partnering with qualified experts and constantly updating our content, we make sure that parents get accurate, reliable, and timely advice. This is especially important in remote areas where access to healthcare professionals can be limited.
How has Google Play supported Tentang Anak?
Garri: Google Play has provided us with the tools and support to optimize our app's performance and engagement. From using Google’s analytics and A/B testing to improve the user experience, to the seamless distribution through the Play Store, Google has been a key partner in scaling Tentang Anak and making sure parents across Indonesia can access the app.
What is next for Tentang Anak?
Mesty: We’re focused on expanding our reach across Indonesia, ensuring that more parents, especially in remote areas, have access to the support and resources they need. We’re also enhancing our app with more interactive features to keep parents engaged and informed.
Garri: At the same time, we’re expanding our offerings with products for children, including children's books, vitamins, and skincare. Our goal is to make Tentang Anak the go-to platform and brand for all things parenting in Indonesia, and we’re excited to see how we can grow and help even more families.
Discover more global #WeArePlay stories and share your favorites.
Source: Android Developers Blog
Making the Play Integrity API faster, more resilient, and more private
Posted by Prabhat Sharma – Director, Trust and Safety, Play, Android, and Chrome
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Posted by Prabhat Sharma – Director, Trust and Safety, Play, Android, and Chrome
At Google Play, we’re committed to providing a safe and secure environment for your business to thrive. That’s why we continually invest in reinforcing user trust, protecting your business, and safeguarding the ecosystem. This includes actively combating bad actors who try to deceive users or spread malware, and giving you tools to combat abuse.
Our tools like the Play Integrity API helps protect your business from revenue loss and enhance user safety. You can use the Play Integrity API to detect suspicious activity and decide how to respond to abuse, such as fraud, bots, cheating, or data theft. In fact, apps that use Play Integrity features have seen 80% less unauthorized usage on average compared to other apps. Today, we’re sharing how we’re enhancing the Play Integrity API for everyone.
Play integrity verdicts are becoming faster, less spoofable, and more privacy-friendly
Starting today, we’re changing the technology that powers the Play Integrity API on all devices running Android 13 (API level 33) and above to make it faster, more reliable, and more private for users. Developers already using Play Integrity API can opt-in to start using the new verdicts today; all API integrations will automatically transition to the new verdicts in May 2025. The improved verdicts will require, and make greater use of, hardware-backed security signals using Android Platform Key Attestation, making it significantly harder and more costly for attackers to bypass. We’ll also be adjusting verdicts when we detect security threats across Android SDK versions, such as when there is evidence of excessive activity or key compromise, without requiring any developer work. And now, Play Integrity API will have the same level of reliability and support across all Android form factors.
The transition to the new verdicts will reduce the device signals that need to be collected and evaluated on Google servers by ~90% and our testing indicates verdict latency can improve by up to ~80%.
You can now check whether a device has a recent security update
Play Integrity API offers enhanced security signals, like the optional “meets-strong-integrity” and “meets-basic-integrity” responses in the device recognition verdict, to help you decide how much you trust the environment your app is running in. Now, we’re updating the “meets-strong-integrity” response to require a security update within the last year on devices running Android 13 and above. This update gives apps with higher security needs, like banking and finance apps, governments, and enterprise apps, more ways to tailor their level of protection for sensitive features, like transferring money. When the strong label isn’t available for the user, we recommend that you have a fallback option. Learn more about our recommended API practices.
We’re also making it easier for you to adjust your app's behavior based on the user’s Android SDK version with a new device attributes field. For example, your app could respond differently to the legacy “meets-strong-integrity” definition on devices running Android 12 and lower than to the enhanced definition on devices running Android 13 and higher. The FAQ includes some example code for using the new device attributes field.
We’re standardizing all optional verdict signals so it’s consistent for you to use
We’re simplifying and standardizing all verdict content across apps, games, SDKs, and more, so that what you see will be more consistent and predictable. For apps installed by Google Play, you can get enhanced verdicts with optional signals such as the improved “meets-strong-integrity” device verdict and the recently launched app access risk verdict (which helps you detect and and respond to apps that can capture the screen or control the device, so you can protect your users from scams or malicious activity). For apps installed out of Google Play and all other API requests, you’ll receive a verdict with information about the device, account license, and app, but without the extra security signals.
Developers can start using the improved verdicts today and they’ll go live for all integrations in May 2025
Starting today, all new integrations will automatically receive the improved verdicts. Developers who already use the Play Integrity API can opt-in to the new verdicts now, or wait until it automatically updates for them in May 2025. For more information, see the Play Integrity API documentation. With these ongoing enhancements, the Play Integrity API is becoming an even more essential tool for safeguarding your apps and users.