Google Takes a Step Towards Safer App Experiences
Google is expanding its answer to Apple's age-assurance tools by bringing its Play Signal API to users worldwide by the end of 2026. This technology, already available in Brazil, allows Android developers to identify their apps' younger users and provide safer, age-appropriate experiences.
How it Works
The expansion will initially bring the API to Australia and Canada by mid-August, before rolling out globally to all markets by year-end. Like Apple, Google's technology allows developers to obtain a user's age range without needing to access their personal information. Instead, it enables parents to share their child's age range directly with apps, and also lets adults share their age when prompted by app developers.
Parental Controls
Parents won't have to manage sharing this information on an app-by-app basis. To make it easier, Google centralizes this sharing by putting the controls for sharing directly inside its parental controls dashboard, Family Link. Once input, any developer that chooses to incorporate age range information can access this signal to customize their apps accordingly. However, the age ranges are not shared by default – parents will have to opt in by initially entering that information.
Additional Safety Tools
The feature joins other safety tools on Google Play, including those that let developers restrict a child's ability to discover their apps. Parents, meanwhile, can continue to use Google Play's Family Link app to manage their child's screen-time limits, approve app downloads, or set PIN-based content filters for specific apps.
Key Benefits
- Allows developers to obtain a user's age range without accessing personal information
- Enables parents to share their child's age range directly with apps
- Allows adults to share their age when prompted by app developers
- Centralizes sharing of age range information through Family Link
- Joins other safety tools on Google Play to provide a safer experience for younger users