Reddit just released its official app for iOS and Android last week, allowing users to uncover the best of the Internet from their mobile devices. But real redditors know there are already third-party apps that exist in the App Stores that attempt to provide a Reddit-like experience previous to this big launch.
But then they all seemed to have been pulled from the App Store by Apple.
Apple put its foot down and removed some of the third-party Reddit apps from the App Store because they featured NSFW content.
When a developer submits their app to the App Store, they must abide by Apple's rules. Guideline 18.2 clearly states that Apple will reject "user generated content that is frequently pornographic."
And since third-party Reddit apps like Narwhal, Antenna, Eggplant and BaconReader do allow adult content, Apple had no choice but to get rid of them.
Well, technically it was only until they made some changes because the apps are back up after making some adjustments. Interestingly enough, some of the apps have been available for more than a year in the App Store. Why Apple decided to pull them now is unknown.
Some of the Reddit client apps did feature a setting or filter that allowed the user to enable or disable the NSFW content. When this setting was in place, the app would censor NSFW images or tags if they featured adult content.
A developer at Narwhal revealed on Reddit that the website did not request the third-party apps to be removed, and this decision was made only by Apple.
Apple asked some developers, like Eggplant, to remove the NSFW toggle and then resubmit the app. It appears that those who could remove the adult content options were able to get back on the Store.
While this might seem like an easy fix, it doesn't really solve any problems with adult content. Apps, like Eggplant, are image and gif browsers that allow users to check out posts in various subreddits like /r/OldScoolCool, which doesn't mean there is pornography, but there are posts that do feature adult content. Removing the toggle means that they won't be able to filter out the content.
That means that adult content could still be lurking in these apps, with Apple appearing to be more concerned with them using the term "NSFW." Reddit's official app simply hides NSFW content, so this could be the solution Apple is looking for.
