--- title: Pixalate’s Q3 2024 Teacher Approved Apps Analysis for the Google Play Store description: Pixalate's Q3 2024 Google Play Store ‘Teacher Approved’ Apps Privacy Risks & Data Sharing Insights report examines the extent to which personal information is accessed and shared by apps in the “Teacher Approved” program image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/Teacher%20Approved%20Apps%20Analysis%20(Google%20Play%20Store)%202024.png --- [![pixalate-full-logo](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixalate_Logos/pixalate-full-logo.jpg?width=150&height=60&name=pixalate-full-logo.jpg "pixalate-full-logo")](https://www.pixalate.com) Search **Menu** ** ** ![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/f.hubspotusercontent40.nethubfs2364596Blog_MediaBlog%20photospixalate-blog-bg.png) [Mobile Apps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/mobile-apps) | [Privacy](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/privacy) | 2 min read # Google ‘Teacher Approved’ Apps Privacy Risks & Data Sharing Q3 2024: Pixalate Finds 23M+ User Ratings on Apps That Fail to Obtain Verifiable Parental Consent But Share Personal Info in Ad Bid Stream Written by [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/pixalate) Dec 2, 2024 2:15:00 PM *According to Pixalate’s research, 50% of apps in the Google Play Store “Teacher Approved” program are enabled for programmatic advertising, including targeted advertising; There are 531+ million downloads of “Teacher Approved” Google Play Store apps that transmit user location data in the programmatic advertising bid stream* **LONDON, December 2, 2024** – [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/), the global market-leading ad fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform, today released the [Q3 2024 Google Play Store ‘Teacher Approved’ Apps Privacy Risks & Data Sharing Insights report](https://www.pixalate.com/teacher-approved-apps-analysis-google-play-store). The report examines the extent to which personal information is accessed and shared by apps in the “Teacher Approved” program as well as close look at apps in the program that apparently fail to seek Verifiable Parental Consent (VPC) but still share personal information in the advertising bid stream.  To compile this research, Pixalate’s data science team analyzed 9,816 apps in the Google Play Store with the “Teacher Approved” badge as of Q3 2024. Pixalate’s data science team also analyzed programmatic advertising impressions on these apps to determine if certain data points - such as IP address and geolocation information - were shared with advertisers via the advertising bid stream during Q3 2024. Pixalate's [Trust & Safety Advisory Board](https://www.pixalate.com/trust-and-safety-advisory-board) also conducted a manual review of 20 mobile apps in the ‘Teacher Approved’ program between March-June 2024 to analyze whether the apps seek VPC. ## **Key Findings: ** - **Lack of Parental Consent: 23+ million **user ratings across “Teacher Approved” apps that do not obtain Verifiable Parental Consent (VPC)** but still share location or IP address data in the ad bid stream (per Pixalate’s data) - an apparent violation of COPPA, [*16 CFR 312*](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312#p-312.2(Obtaining%20verifiable%20consent)) - **Scale of Potential Risks: 85+ million** user ratings on “Teacher Approved'” apps with app-ads.txt files - meaning the apps are enabled for programmatic ads, including targeted ads - **Transmission of Location Data: 531+ million downloads** across 534 “Teacher Approved” apps that transmit location data in the programmatic advertising bid stream*, per Pixalate’s data - **‘Sensitive’ Information Requests: 37+ million **user ratings across 1,276 “Teacher Approved” apps that request access to personal information via permissions*, per Pixalate’s data Google’s “Teacher Approved” mobile app program is designed to help parents “find high-quality apps for kids,” according to [Google](https://blog.google/products/google-play/teacher-approved-apps/). While the majority of these “Teacher Approved” mobile apps may be processing users’ personal information in compliance with global privacy laws and regulations, this report aims to emphasize the span of data collection practices actively undertaken by mobile apps generally tailored for child-user experiences. ** **Pixalate is sharing these statistics mainly to highlight the scale at which personal information is accessed and shared by apps that are certified as ‘Teacher Approved’ on the Google Play Store.* *** Between March-June 2024, Pixalate's *[*Trust & Safety Advisory Board*](https://www.pixalate.com/trust-and-safety-advisory-board)* conducted a manual review of 20 mobile apps in the ‘Teacher Approved’ program to analyze whether the apps seek VPC.* Download Pixalate’s Q3 2024 Google Play Store ‘Teacher Approved’ Apps Privacy Risk Analysis report. [![Teacher Approved Apps Analysis: Google Play Store](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2364596/976872cb-689a-449f-a37a-17352e36a3cc.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2364596/976872cb-689a-449f-a37a-17352e36a3cc) **About Pixalate** Pixalate is a global platform specializing in privacy compliance, ad fraud prevention, and digital ad supply chain data intelligence. Founded in 2012, Pixalate is trusted by regulators, data researchers, advertisers, publishers, ad tech platforms, and financial analysts across the Connected TV (CTV), mobile app, and website ecosystems. Pixalate is accredited by the MRC for the detection and filtration of Sophisticated Invalid Traffic (SIVT). [pixalate.com](https://www.pixalate.com/) **Disclaimer** *The content of this press release, and the **Google Play Store ‘Teacher Approved’ Apps Privacy Risks & Data Sharing Insights report **(the Report), reflect Pixalate's opinions with respect to factors that Pixalate believes may  be useful to the digital media industry. Pixalate's opinions are just that, opinions, which means that they are neither facts nor guarantees. Pixalate is sharing this data not to impugn the standing or reputation of any entity, person or app, but, instead, to report findings and trends pertaining to programmatic advertising activity in the time period studied.* ### Search Blog Search ### Follow Pixalate [**](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Pixalate%20Wechat.png?utm_campaign=Company%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ZtCSHiG6VOXsk-H9wZxOKVhNZxU_38xbLSOf7jCI9cht_GS6NejKw3dZ_BY3kYiwF7Hc9ZWlilTmIVK5YSB9-baUW2w&_hsmi=336270631&utm_content=336270631&utm_source=hs_email) ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Previous Story [← Pixalate Week in Review: November 25 - November 29, 2024](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/november-29-2024) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Germany Programmatic Ad Seller Quality Rankings Q3 2024: Quarter Media Technologies Gmbh Tops Pixalate’s Web Seller Trust Index; Verve No. 1 on Mobile →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/q3-2024-seller-trust-index-germany) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Mobile Apps [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Abandoned%20Mobile%20Apps%20Report%20-%20blog%20cover.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalate-releases-may-2026-global-abandoned-mobile-apps-report) [Mobile Apps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/mobile-apps) ### [Pixalate Releases May 2026 Global Abandoned Mobile Apps Report: “Draw In™” at the top on Apple App Store, “GUNSHIP BATTLE: Helicopter 3D” tops Google Play Store](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalate-releases-may-2026-global-abandoned-mobile-apps-report) Jun 24, 2026 9:00:02 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog%20Media/2026%20Covers%20and%20Images/MONTHLY%20MOST%20COMMON%20MOBILE%20AD%20FRAUD%20TYPES%20GOOGLE%20-%20APPLE%20BLOG%20COVER.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-may-2026-most-common-mobile-app-ad-fraud-types) [Ad Fraud](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/ad-fraud) ### [Pixalate Releases May 2026 Most Common Mobile App Ad Fraud Types: ‘High Risk Device ID’ Most Common Type Across Google Play Store (32%); ‘High Risk IP’ Most Common on Apple App Store (48%)](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-may-2026-most-common-mobile-app-ad-fraud-types) Jun 9, 2026 9:00:00 AM | 2 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog%20Media/2026%20Covers%20and%20Images/MONTHLY%20TOP%20MOBILE%20AD%20FRAUD%20TYPES%20GOOGLE%20-%20APPLE%20BLOG%20COVER.jpg) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-april-2026-most-common-mobile-app-ad-fraud-types) [Ad Fraud](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/ad-fraud) ### [Pixalate Releases April 2026 Most Common Mobile App Ad Fraud Types: ‘High Risk Device ID’ Most Common Type Across Google Play Store (28%); ‘High Risk IP’ Most Common on Apple App Store (23%)](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-april-2026-most-common-mobile-app-ad-fraud-types) May 18, 2026 9:00:00 AM | 2 min read ** ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) ![pixalate-logo-red-small](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2018NewTemplate/pixalate-logo-red-small.png?width=208&name=pixalate-logo-red-small.png "pixalate-logo-red-small") ** By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Products [Analytics](https://www.pixalate.com/products/analytics) [Blocking](https://www.pixalate.com/products/blocking) [Media Rating Terminal](https://www.pixalate.com/products/mrt) [Publisher Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [Seller Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [IoT Device Rankings](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=iotDeviceReach) Resources [Blog](https://blog.pixalate.com/) [Press](https://www.pixalate.com/press) [Careers](https://www.pixalate.com/jobs) [Team](https://info.pixalate.com/pixalate-leadership-team) Contact Email [** sales@pixalate.com ](mailto:sales@pixalate.com) [** privacy@pixalate.com ](mailto:privacy@pixalate.com) US: [** +1 888 749 2528 ](tel:+1%20888%20749%202528) EU: [** +44 (0)800 011 2050 ](tel:+44%20(0)800%20011%202050) Slack: [Join ATSAPI Slack Channel ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) Offices Global Offices US 1775 Greensboro Station Place, Suite 425, McLean, VA 22102 UK 20 North Audley Street London, W1K 6WE, United Kingdom EU 10 Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland Singapore 10 Anson Road, #22-02 International Plaza, Singapore 079903 [![facebook](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/facebook.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/pixalate) [![x](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/twitter-x.png) ](https://twitter.com/pixalateinc) [![linkedin](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/linkedin.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pixalate) ![wechat](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/wechat.png) [![slack](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/slack.png) ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) [GDPR Compliance](https://www.pixalate.com/gdpr) Disclaimer Copyright © 2025 Pixalate [Back to top **](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/q3-2024-teacher-approved-apps-analysis-for-the-google-play-store#) # Disclaimer Disclaimer: The content of this page reflects Pixalate’s opinions with respect to the factors that Pixalate believes can be useful to the digital media industry. Any proprietary data shared is grounded in Pixalate’s proprietary technology and analytics, which Pixalate is continuously evaluating and updating. Any references to outside sources should not be construed as endorsements. Pixalate’s opinions are just that - opinion, not facts or guarantees. Per the MRC, “'Fraud' is not intended to represent fraud as defined in various laws, statutes and ordinances or as conventionally used in U.S. Court or other legal proceedings, but rather a custom definition strictly for advertising measurement purposes. Also per the MRC, “‘Invalid Traffic’ is defined generally as traffic that does not meet certain ad serving quality or completeness criteria, or otherwise does not represent legitimate ad traffic that should be included in measurement counts. Among the reasons why ad traffic may be deemed invalid is it is a result of non-human traffic (spiders, bots, etc.), or activity designed to produce fraudulent traffic.” ** ** *By clicking Download and entering your email address, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and have read and acknowledge our [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/2024-08-20_Pixalate_Privacy_Policy.pdf). *Copyright © 2025 Pixalate** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * × ## Subscribe to the Pixalate Blog The first step in ad fraud prevention. Loading... By entering your email address and clicking Submit, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy). ![pixalate-logo-white](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_V2_08_26_2016/logo/Pixalate_Logo_WHITE.png) ##### Contact Us12 Loading... ![pixalate-logo-white](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_V2_08_26_2016/logo/Pixalate_Logo_WHITE.png) ##### Download GSTI Loading... Schedule your demo today Please complete all fields Loading... By entering your email address and clicking Submit, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy). * * * * *