All of our 154,500+ voices have been heard! YOU have been heard.
Together, we managed to put enough pressure on a giant company to make them take a hard look at their policy around cosmetic surgery apps for children and change it (or the enforcement of it) for the better.
Back in April, an Apple spokesperson made the following positive statement to the media about the company’s stance on cosmetic surgery apps targeting children: “‘We do not want nor allow these types of apps on the store. We have rules in place against these apps and do not offer them on the App Store.’”
Although we were pleased to see that these cosmetic surgery “games” in Apple’s app store were removed, we were reluctant to declare victory because, over the last four years, Apple would swiftly remove flagged apps but new ones would quickly take their place. As our petition was focused on companies creating an official policy, we wanted to be confident that the absence of cosmetic surgery apps for kids in Apple’s app store was a permanent change. After several months of monitoring Apple’s app store, we are now sure:
There are no more cosmetic surgery apps targeted at young children in the Apple app store! Although we attempted to direct dialogue with Apple several times over the last two years, the company refrained from responding directly. We would have liked to engage in some sort of communication regarding the dangers these apps present to children’s body image and mental health and to support Apple in creating a safer space for kids. Despite the company’s reluctance to engage with us, we are now confident in trusting Apple’s word as stated to the media earlier this year.
Disturbingly, Google and Amazon still offer the offending apps and haven’t replied to our requests to discuss the issue - and we've tried. Lots. But with Apple now leading by example, we are hopeful that Google and Amazon will follow suit in the name of protecting their youngest users from harm.
Thank you so much to each and every one of you for joining us at Endangered Bodies in our advocacy to create a safer online space for children around the globe. By supporting our latest international campaign, you have helped to transform the digital world into a platform that is more accepting of different body types, sizes and skin colours.
Your action has also helped protect children from harmful messages about cosmetic surgery and body hate.
The absence of these apps is a positive step in the right direction, worthy of celebration. We encourage you to thank Apple directly on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram:
https://www.facebook.com/AppStore/
https://www.instagram.com/apple/
We certainly will!
With much gratitude from the international Endangered Bodies team in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom.
