Generally Google Play focuses on app safety and visibility with a help of a global rating system managed by the International Age Rating Coalition or IARC. This system distributes specific ratings, like ESRB in North America, PEGI in Europe, USK in Germany or ClassInd in Brazil. If there is no local authority - a generic rating is used. Developers fills content rating questionnaire in the Play console. Rating appears on store listings helping parents to decide if an app is ok.
Today this process is required for all apps. Google uses automated screening for app submissions, but human reviewers step in if there are policy or quality concerns. Google updated in 2023 publishing process so developers can choose when to submit changes for review and use managed publishing for clearer status updates.
In 2024, Google started to identify developers for new accounts and lowered the minimum tester requirement for personal accounts. The Restrict Declared Minors, or RDM, setting also added in 2024.
These updates show that Google Play’s does everything for safety and quality. As a result these changes move Google Play from a mostly automated self-rated system to a hybrid approach that is based on regional ratings, much stronger verification and better publication controls.