[davidjade]

Except, what happens when apps get removed from the iOS App Store and moved to another store for distribution? If people want to continue or need to use those apps then they would have to use these other app stores.

What if those apps moved to other stores so they can skirt Apple's review and other consumer-friendly restrictions? How is that better for consumers that use Facebook, Insta, etc... for them to have apps with less review and less scrutinized for their behavior? Some of Apples policies have been good for consumers of apps.

Just witness how Fb, etc... already try and skirt those rules that are in place to protect users from tracking and other abuses. Seems pretty logical to assume they would all jump ship to another store to not be under Apple's review process if they could.

I don't doubt for one minute that Fb, etc.. would not jump to another store with less restrictions, and either pull their existing apps or leave them severely restricted in the Apple App Store as an "incentive" to download from the other store.

[spogbiper]

A) this has not happened on Android, where 3rd party stores and side loading have always been possible

B) if people truly value the Apple lock down system, they will not use applications that don't comply with the lock down system

[voltaireodactyl]

Just fwiw, my understanding is that this has already happened on both Android and iOS (via TestFlight): https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/29/facebook-project-atlas/

[spogbiper]

That's not Facebook moving to an alternative store, that's Facebook the company introducing another application outside of the store.

Also worth noting that they got called out and ultimately shut down for being shady. Even though they were operating outside of Apples locked down environment. It's almost like we don't need Apple to protect us, and in fact we can protect ourselves

[davidjade]

Here's what they just got caught doing on Android - "secretly communicating with Meta’s apps on Android devices"

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/protect-yourself-metas...

[jajuuka]

If you can only attract good apps by making yourself the only option then your platform is bad. If Apple can't compete in the market they are doing a bad job.