# Google Play: Families policy and target audience
> Google Play rejected the app under the Families policy or Target audience and content. Fix the age group, ads SDKs, identifiers and store listing.
Canonical: https://app369.com/fix/google-play-families-policy/
Last updated: 2026-11-09
Every app on Google Play declares a target age group in Play Console. Once that group includes children, the Families policy applies to the ads and the data the app sends. Child-appealing listing art can also lead Google Play to reject an app that says it is not for children.
**Short answer**
Open Target audience and content in Play Console and check the age groups match who the app is really for. If children are included, show ads only from Families self-certified ads SDKs, without interest-based ads, use a neutral age screen for mixed audiences, and stop sending identifiers such as the advertising ID. If the app is not for children, remove listing art that suggests it is.
Rather not fix it yourself? [**App Fix Ticket**](https://app369.com/fixed-price/flutter-firebase-bug-fix/) starts with a fixed-price diagnosis, then a fixed price for the fix before any fix work.
## **Why the Families policy flagged the app, and the fix**
1. 01 ### **The store listing looks like it is for children**
> “If your app is not primarily designed for children under 13 but your listing contains marketing elements that suggest otherwise” [**Google Play, Target audience and content**](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9867159?hl=en) Cartoon art or young characters in the screenshots and icon can lead Google Play to reject an app that is not primarily for children. Google’s options are to remove the child-appealing marketing elements from the listing, or change the target age group to children under 13 only, which brings the Families policy requirements.
2. 02 ### **The ads SDK is not self-certified**
> “Only use Google Play Families Self-Certified Ads SDKs to display ads to those users” [**Google Play, Families policy (Ads requirements)**](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9893335?hl=en) An ads SDK that is not on Google’s Families self-certified list, or one serving interest-based ads, breaks the policy for children. Switch to a self-certified SDK version and turn off personalized ads for those users.
3. 03 ### **The app sends device identifiers**
> “Apps that solely target children must not transmit Android advertising identifier (AAID), SIM Serial, Build Serial, BSSID, MAC, SSID, IMEI, and/or IMSI.” [**Google Play, Families policy (data practices)**](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9893335?hl=en) An analytics or ads SDK that sends the advertising ID or other device IDs fails the data rules for children. Remove the identifier, or the SDK, for the children’s audience.
4. 04 ### **A mixed audience has no age screen**
> “A neutral age screen must be implemented so that any ads not suitable for children are only shown to older audiences.” [**Google Play, Target audience and content**](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9867159?hl=en) An app for both children and adults has to ask the user’s age in a neutral way, then show children only suitable ads. Add the age screen before any ads are shown.
5. 05 ### **The answers in Play Console are wrong** Also check: Google reviews the Target audience and content answers too, and misrepresenting them can get the app removed. Keep them accurate when you change the app.
Checked against the vendor’s docs on November 9, 2026: [Google Play Help: Families policy](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9893335?hl=en); [Google Play Help: Target audience and content](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9867159?hl=en).
## **Rather hand it over?**
Fixed scope, fixed price, paid upfront. The work happens in writing; no call needed.
- [from $450**App Fix Ticket**One reproducible bug in an existing mobile or web app, diagnosed and fixed.**See scope and start**](https://app369.com/fixed-price/flutter-firebase-bug-fix/)
[**All 127 Fiverr reviews**](https://app369.com/reviews/)
Related: [**Google Play Data safety form rejected**](https://app369.com/fix/google-play-data-safety-form-rejected/) · [**Google Play prominent disclosure and consent**](https://app369.com/fix/google-play-prominent-disclosure-consent/) · [**Google Play user-generated content**](https://app369.com/fix/google-play-user-generated-content/) · [**Google Play invalid privacy policy**](https://app369.com/fix/google-play-invalid-privacy-policy/)
Questions
## **More on this launch**
**Can I just remove children from the target age group? **+
Only if the app really is not for children. Google Play can still reject it if the listing art suggests a children’s app, so change the listing too.
**Can a children’s app show ads at all? **+
Yes, from Families self-certified ads SDKs, without interest-based advertising or remarketing for those users.
**Can you fix it for me? **+
If one bug is the whole problem, the App Fix Ticket covers it: a written diagnosis first, then the fix. If the app has more going on, the Launch Check is a written check of the whole app. Each issue found is rated critical, high, medium or low, with where it is and how it was confirmed. No issues worth fixing, no charge. If the Launch Check finds nothing rated medium or higher, Simon refunds the full $450. You keep the report either way. This applies to the first 10 Launch Checks bought after October 30, 2026.
Something else?
## **Describe it and get a written quote**
Describe the app and where it is in the launch. You get a written scope, a fixed price and a timeline; Simon replies by email, usually within one business day.
[**Describe your problem **→](https://app369.com/contact/) [**All fixes**](https://app369.com/fix/)