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by wavewash 2794 days ago
We've recently released an app on iOS that has ads and is aimed at a younger audience. We have an option to remove the ads and it comes with an added ability to put a childlock on in app messaging. Later when we add a store into the app we will add features to lock it further because we want to do right by our customers who we hope include parents of kids.

What I didn't expect was the slump in sales we make from ad removal offerings. We make more money from the ads than from purchases of ad removal. I see a lot of folks say "I'll pay for a no ads experience" but the reality is most folks will continue to use the app with the ads even when the option to remove them exists.

Adding code to handle ad removal is another feature which takes time to develop and keep up to date as APIs and system versions change. Sadly, it may not be lucrative enough for most developers to put that effort in to provide the option.
4 comments
teddyh 2794 days ago
> We make more money from the ads than from purchases of ad removal.

Yes, you’ll make more money doing the bad thing which people are complaining about. This will always be true. If you could make more money the other way, you would do it, and people would have nothing to complain about. Therefore, the fact that you can make more money is not a valid reason to keep doing it.

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huhtenberg 2794 days ago
> we want to do right by our customers

If you are targeting kids and serving up ads by default, you are NOT "doing right by your customers". It might be a wide-spread practice, but it doesn't make it any less unethical. Saying as a parent.

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ricardobeat 2794 days ago
That’s not good enough - you’re just doing the same as everyone else. We just want to buy your apps upfront; I’ve gladly paid for many (ex Toca apps).

Having an in-game store, IAP and ads are an absolute no-go for kids under 7. I’ll delete it right off the bat.

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salvar 2794 days ago
When one of the ads in your ad gets clicked, what do you think is the most likely reason? That a child was interested in the product and wanted to get more information before making a decision?
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