While the policy is apparently not completely formed, it appears that Apple is taking the lead and taking a stance on sexually explicit content. They have reportedly deleted as many as 5000 apps from the app store due to their sexual content.

Of course, this app filtering process will not go unnoticed. First of all, thre are several sensitive issues here. There is no published policy as to what is acceptible and what is not. Many of the apps being removed have already enjoyed significant commercial success. At per app, some have already made millions — and it is important to keep in mind that Apple profits from those apps aswell. So kudos to the Apple management team who decided to forego profit in the name of responsibility.

The way the policy is being carved out and implemented may provoe to be problematic. No doubt that it would have been healthier for everyone if the policy had existed before and been effectively communicated to the app developers. many of whom are rightfully angry.

At the same time, it’s a bit difficult to feel too much sorrow for the developer of an app whose sole purpose in life is to label women’s breast’s on images. While that is one of the more benign apps with sexual content, and maybe Apple will find a way to ease such apps back into the app store, the fact taht this action is making a lot of noise, is itself important and worthwhile. Most parents whose children have iPhone’s are likely unaware of the range of explicit and inapprpriate apps and content their children can access. There is a naive assumption that a company like Apple is not going to sell pornographic content to children.

It will be interesting to see how the formation of Apple’s new content policy plays out and how the effects ripple throughout the industry. Hopefully more Internet industry giants will begin to stand up and take responsibility for the content they are enabling — from Youtube to Facebook to MySpace and many others. Parents should not be forced to ensure that each an every device has a strong web filter guarding their children from exposure to porn, sex and other inappropriate content.

Related Apple Store Articles