Tumblr is gone from the iOS App Store, but exactly why remains a mystery. Still, there’s speculation that Apple cracked down on the blogging app for being used to disseminate content that violates Apple’s guidelines for third-party software.
Oath, the developer of Tumblr, promises that it’s working on the “issue.”
No explanation available
Apple has yet to say anything about why this software has been removed from the App Store.
Oath is being almost equally uncommunicative.. A note on the Tumblr website has plenty of words but very few details. It reads: “We’re working to resolve an issue with the iOS app and hope to be fully functional again soon. We really appreciate your patience as we figure this out, and we’ll update this article when we have news to share.”
A follow-up message posted a few hours ago reads: “Our team continues to work on the issue with the iOS app, which is our top priority at this time. Thanks for your patience and for checking back here for updates.”
Déjà vu all over again
Something nearly identical happened with both the Telegram apps early this year. They also disappeared from the App Store, but their developer was upfront about the reason: “We were alerted by Apple that inappropriate content was made available to our users and both apps were taken off the App Store”
It’s quite possible this is what happened with Tumblr. Apple’s terms of service require applications allow users to filter and report objectionable material. If the company decided that the handling of Tumblogs was in violation of those rules then the application would be removed.
Adding to weight to this theory is a report that iPhone and iPad users who already have Tumblr installed can’t search unless Safe Mode is on.
