Users say language learning app Duolingo has been using the iPhone’s Live Activity feature to display ads for a paid subscription offer on the Dynamic Island, as well as its Lock Screen, according to a MacRumors report, The move violates Apple’s design guidelines.
The publication says numerous reports on Reddit claim they have seen a Duolingo app displaying an ad for a “Super offer,” on the Dynamic Island and the Lock Screen, promoting Duolingo’s paid subscription option.
This duolingo bar has been sitting there for a while,
when I expand it, it shows an advertisement.
isn’t this against apple terms of service?
That is a violation of Apple’s Live Activity rules against using either area to display ads or promotions.
From Apple’s developer website:
Don’t use a Live Activity to display ads or promotions. Live Activities help people stay informed about ongoing events and tasks, so it’s important to display only information that’s related to those events and tasks.
If an app violates Apple’s interface guidelines, it can be pulled from the App Store.
MacRumors says it could not replicate the Live Activity ad (nor could Mactrast), so Duolingo has likely stopped displaying it after user complaints.
(Image credit: Reddit user: rapha3l14)
