Google Play families Self-Certified Ads SDK Program policy: fixes and checks

Families self-certification applies to specific SDK versions. Choosing a familiar ad-network name doesn’t establish that the version in your app is approved for serving children.

What app developers should check

Compare every ad SDK and mediation adapter in the release build with Google’s current self-certified version list. Ensure child-directed treatment and ad-content ratings reach all participating networks.

Mixed-audience apps need to route children’s ads appropriately. Self-certification doesn’t guarantee that your configuration, creatives, or data practices meet every requirement. Google still holds you responsible for the app’s behavior.

The program describes limited cases such as in-house advertising and direct advertiser deals that don’t require SDK self-certification. Those cases still have to meet Families and User Data rules.

What SDK providers should check

Providers need age-appropriate creative ratings, suitable formats, child-directed controls, and reviewed creatives for real-time bidding. Privacy indicators must reach bidders, and personalized ads and remarketing must be disabled for child-directed treatment.

The provider requirements also cover identifying creatives, data disclosures, prohibited identifiers, accurate self-certification information, and a working test app. The test app needs to exercise the SDK’s features and inventory as specified by Google, rather than showing only a curated demonstration.

How to address the rejection

Update to a qualifying version or remove the incompatible provider. Verify the actual dependency graph and the ads delivered for child and unknown-age sessions.

If a provider’s version was removed from the program, don’t assume an older integration remains acceptable. Give Google the corrected version and configuration. SDK providers should follow the program’s evidence requests and certify new versions against the current requirements.