Trent Reznor and the Slippery Slope of Appropriateness
Monday, May 4, 2009 at 9:28AM Just last week, we had mentioned the issues Apple faced with the Baby Shaker app, approving, then swiftly removing the app. Now one of Apple's most prominent supporters is frustrated with the app approval process. Trent Reznor, the founder and only official member of the band Nine Inch Nails (NIN) has had the latest update to his praised iPhone app rejected. Due to objectionable content. According to Reznor on his message board, its the inclusion of a profanity-bearing song in the app that's caused the issue.
Reznor points out, in language more colorful than we use here, that the same lyrics can be found in songs available in the iTunes store. Apple has offered content in the store for years, labelled as "explicit."
How then should Apple regulate app appropriateness? It seems the best, although not perfect, solution would be to make robust parental controls available for app purchases. This isn't a new issue the gaming industry in particular has dealt with objectionable content issues for years, especially with online gameplay. Perhaps Apple should add a disclaimer for apps that could be used, to access a message board, for example, where any number of things might be seen/heard/read outside of Apple's control.
For two weeks, the biggest headlines generated from the app store have been about app mis-steps. It's time for Apple to be proactive and create a more uniform set of standards for the apps. It is by no means an easy issue to solve, but clearer/consistent guidelines are a start.
App store, iPhone, nin, nine inch nails, trent reznor Permalink
Reader Comments (3)
Here's an entertaining concept:
From the game angle, every game must be assigned a rating by the ESRB. Apple can then use ESRB ratings in the same way they use RIAA ratings.
If the application access content which the RIAA has labeled as explicit, the app will also have an explicit tag.
Problem solved.
Better yet, simply ban the sale of iPhones to minors. I mean, really, isn't that what the whole problem is? Kids?
You must be 18 to use an iPhone. Problem solved.
/sarcasm
Just became a HUGE fan and devotee~ of Apple. Trent Reznor was a very large motivation for me to do this. I will never look back at Windows. And...Apple is being fscking ridiculous about this-only NIN fans are going to download this App (I plan to, when I get my iPod Touch), and if only NIN fans (who know damn good and well that Trent uses profanity in his music) download this app...well, do you get my point?
My point is this: NIN fans don't give a fsck about profanity in their music, and so they won't give a fsck about profanity in their iPhone apps, either-so therefore Apple shouldn't give a fsck either. And if they DO care, then they should ban Trent from EVER producing his music on an Apple computer ever again. Which they won't do, they can't afford to lose a customer who spends large amounts of money in ONE sitting (Hell, when he outfits a studio with computers, he buys like 10 or 20 or more at a time)
Apple should wise up and shut the fsck up.