Apple Removes Baby Shaker App
2The iPhone may be one of the coolest gadgets ever made, but that hasn’t stopped people from finding ways to bash the phone, the platform, or even Apple for all kinds of reasons. The latest controversy have come forth due to the release of Baby Shaker application on iPhone. Baby Shaker was all about silencing a baby that was crying by shaking the phone. I get it. It was a distasteful application and deserved to be removed from iTunes. Apple even apologized for ever allowing the app to make it to its store in the first place:
This application was deeply offensive and should not have been approved for distribution on the App Store
I do believe that the application was a bit distasteful, but this is a misguided controversy. I get the fact that we shouldn’t joke about these things, but how is it that super violent games make it to iTunes without too many people complaining. We seem to have no trouble fighting or shooting people on our phones, and we never hear a complaint about those apps. The fact is, iPhone is a very popular gadget and a few people may be looking to get some more coverage by bashing Apple here and there. I don’t have a problem with raising awareness about this very important issue. But let’s just stop blaming Apple for all of this. A distasteful application managed to get by the folks at Apple, and we are bringing hell on earth for it? If people learn violent behavior from their iPhone applications, we are in a deeper trouble than all of us ever thought.
I agree – there are larger issues at play here. I don’t see why people are afraid to use common sense and simply ignore/not purchase things they deem offensive? I agree that the app was distasteful and not something that I would want to support in any way. HOWEVER…I also believe that people should have the ability to produce and sell whatever they want; and consumers can vote with their dollars. Very simple.
While some things are distasteful, the issue remains that the App Store is the only place that Apps can be distributed/sold – and we do not need a retailer on any level dictating what moral/social values are appropriate when they control the sole distribution outlet. Why not create another section for apps that may contain objectionable material that age appropriate users can make their own decisions on?
I actually had to tone it down a bit. It’s just tough when people blame the global warming, death of babies, and other behavior on a gadget like iPhone. It just feels like the twilight zone! Doesn’t Apple have a rating for their apps already? Just rate the app 18+.