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Apple removes third-party Reddit clients from the App Store due to NSFW content

Update: Users report that the removed Reddit clients are returning to the App Store as developers implement changes to remove the NSFW toggle.

Following the release of the official Reddit iOS app last week, Apple today has pulled a handful of third-party Reddit clients from the App Store. While the change appears to be unrelated to the launch of the official Reddit client, it’s a surprise nonetheless. As for its reasoning for removing the apps, Apple says they violate clause 18.2 of the App Review Guidelines, which relates to NSFW content…

In a thread on Reddit, users quickly pointed out that many third-party clients for browsing the service were removed from the App Store this evening with Apple citing “user generated content that is frequently pornographic.”

While many were quick to speculate that perhaps Reddit had asked Apple to pull the apps from the App Store in an effort to drive usage of its official client, the developer behind popular Reddit client Narwhal says that is not the case. “Reddit did not request this. This is solely because of Apple,” he wrote.

Additionally, the developer behind the Eggplant Reddit client also had his app pulled. When he reached out to Apple, he was informed that he needed to remove the NSFW toggle that is within his app, as well as all NSFW content. By default, the displaying of NSFW content is disabled in Eggplant. Here is what Apple said to the developer of Eggplant:

It is not appropriate to display pornographic content. It would be appropriate to remove the toggle and pornography present within the app

On the other hand, however, Reddit itself was asked to update the two apps it is responsible for, Reddit Official and Alien Blue, to remove the “Safe for Work Browsing” toggle, but not the actual NSFW content. This is odd because Apple requested that Reddit add that toggle originally.

From Reddit:

We were asked to update our apps (AB and Reddit Official) to remove the “Safe for Work Browsing” toggle. This is a feature we previously refined with Apple’s help. We were surprised by the notice.

We just resubmitted our build. We were not informed that Apple would be removing other apps. We were very upset to see that they did. Honestly, if we were interested in getting rid of 3rd party apps (which we’re not!!!), this would be the stupidest possible way to accomplish it.

We suggest all 3rd party apps similarly remove settings for safe for work browsing.

It’s odd that Apple would remove all of the third-party apps from the App Store, but not the official client. Nevertheless, it’s good to see that Reddit itself was not behind the removal of the third-party apps.

We’ve reached out to Apple for comment and will update if we hear back.

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Comments

  1. srgmac - 8 years ago

    This is kind of dumb…and I really don’t understand it.
    What about a 3rd party web browser, couldn’t that navigate to porn!?
    What about Twitter & Instagram? I bet you could say those apps contain “hate speech” haha.
    Sometimes the walled garden of censorship is kind of foolish.

    • Charlypollo - 8 years ago

      Hate speech? Twitter has enough NSFW content that it could leave any pR0n page ridiculed. Hate speech is the less of the evils in there.

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      If Apple is so worried about what people see in apps why is Safari included? There is a reason there is restrictions settings in IOS and ratings for apps, that should be enough to allow”objections content”. I don’t get why a liberal company is not liberal when it comes to this type of content.I would be more worried about the speech on Reddit then some damn porn.

  2. calisurfboy - 8 years ago

    Apple denying the free flow of information is as heavy handed as the government prying into your privacy.

    • rogifan - 8 years ago

      It’s Apple’s App Store. They own it and can do what they want. I’m assuming all of this information can be found on the web via a browser?

      • shareef777 - 8 years ago

        So Apple’s mantra has become ‘do as I say, not as I do’?

  3. george1620 - 8 years ago

    This is quite confusing, I think. What about Tumblr, for example? There’s so much porn on their

  4. jackyharuhiko - 8 years ago

    Then they need to remove the official app also.

  5. xp84 - 8 years ago

    I don’t get it. Any app that offers unfettered web content should certainly get the NC-17 type rating, but what is the problem letting adults use it?? Jesus Christ, think of the children — being raised by idiots too stupid to spend 10 minutes familiarizing them with the Restrictions settings, and also too careless to ever supervise their kids.

  6. vandiced - 8 years ago

    Steve Jobs wouldn’t have allowed this. Oh wait.

  7. “Update: Users report that the removed Reddit clients are returning to the App Store as developers implement changes to remove the NSFW content.”

    Actually, from what I see in narwhal, its the COMPLETE OPPOSITE. What Apple wanted them to do is to remove the NSFW options from the preferences so there is no mention of NSFW in the code. now NSFW content displays in thumbnails BY DEFAULT. This is a completely backwards and utterly stupid response to a problem Apple (and google) is too afraid to tackle, Because won’t someone think of the children?

    Seriously, its 2016 and everyone has to play morality police. Apple could totally create an age verification that uses drivers licenses, maybe even throw in an UV LED to prevent using a fake ID.

    • srgmac - 8 years ago

      That actually makes more sense…I’m gathering that they just don’t want the characters “NSFW” to appear in code, because it would trip their automation, right? Still foolish.

  8. David Rosnow - 8 years ago

    Apple should offer an API that allows third party apps to support content restrictions. So if a parent does not want adult content they can set that and apps can conform and block that content just like Safari does..

Author

Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

Tips, questions, typos to chance@9to5mac.com