APP STORE SCAM: Is this how apps get their high ratings on App Store?
A picture is seen virally doing rounds on Twitter and other social platforms, which allegedly explains that app developers go through different illegal methods in order to increase their ratings. In the picture seen below, a Chinese woman is seated in front of around a hundred iPads and iPhones, doing some work.
At first glimpse, it seems like this woman is simply carrying out some iOS device tests or is doing some work, which involves multiple tablets. However, the Twitter post alleges that the woman is downloading an app from the App Store, using multiple IDs, and giving the app high ratings, for a price.
Is this how apps on the App Store get their high ratings in such a short time? Well, there is no confirmation on this topic and this photo on Twitter, but the same can also be true. Almost a year ago, Apple was on the case to bring down the number of fake app ratings from their App Store. At the time Apple was on the case, app developers were posting fake reviews about the app, helping it boost the sales. This time it is the ratings and number of downloads for an app, which pushes the app to the top of the shelf, giving it more visibility.
App developers, to ensure that their apps get visibility, can go through various levels of marketing strategies. From advertising their apps to releasing trial packs, they go through a lot. However, with one person employed to sit behind hundreds of iPads and iPhones and simply keep downloading the app multiple times and from multiple unique IDs and rating them the highest, is another trick in the book.
“@simonpang: This is how App Store ratings work. Welcome to the reality. pic.twitter.com/vMPzWO03FK”
— Matt Aussaguel (@mattaussaguel) February 2, 2015If the picture above is to be believed, then Apple needs to do something about it, and fast. In the picture, the woman is employed to sit in front of dozens of iPads and iPhones, and give the app a high rating in order to help push the app an artificial boost. The App store thinks that multiple people have downloaded the app and are enjoying the app and giving it a high rating, recommending it to other users. There are hundreds of apps that make it to the App Store and manage to get 5-star ratings from hundreds of users, within just a few days of going online.
Getting a high rating on an app makes the app developer famous, boosting his income. In order to gain profits, certain app developers can, using this method, stoop below the fair policy line and make it through with ease. However, we do not confirm that the woman in the picture, tweeted by Matt Aussaguel, doing what she looks like she is ‘doing’. But if she ‘is’ doing what she looks like she is ‘doing’, then we would also state what Matt says—“Welcome the reality”.
