Prime Highlights :
- Google will expand its Play Signal API globally to support safer, age-appropriate app experiences.
- Parents can share a child’s age range without revealing personal information such as birth dates.
Key Facts :
- Play Signal API lets developers receive age-range signals instead of personal data.
- Family Link allows parents to manage age-sharing and other child safety controls.
Background :
Google is expanding its Play Signal API worldwide, giving Android app developers a new way to create safer, age-appropriate experiences for younger users. The feature, already available in Brazil, will roll out to Australia and Canada by mid-August before expanding to all markets by the end of the year.
The expansion comes as governments and regulators continue to push app stores to strengthen online protections for children. Google’s move follows Apple’s global rollout of age-assurance tools earlier this year as technology companies respond to growing age-verification requirements.
The Play Signal API lets developers identify a user’s age range without collecting personal details such as their date of birth. Parents can choose to share their child’s age range with supported apps, while adults can also share their own age range when requested by developers to receive age-appropriate content and features.
Google has placed these controls inside its Family Link parental controls platform, allowing parents to manage age-sharing settings from one place instead of approving requests for each app separately. The company said age-range information is not shared automatically, and parents must choose to enable the feature.
The API adds to Google’s existing child safety tools on Google Play. Developers can already limit whether children can discover certain apps, while parents can use Family Link to manage screen-time limits, approve app downloads and apply PIN-protected content filters.
Google said the new system gives developers access only to age-range information instead of personal data, helping them provide safer experiences while protecting user privacy.