# Guideline 1.2 - Safety: User-Generated Content Missing Required Features

**Guideline:** 1.2 · **Store:** Apple App Store · **Severity:** low · **Fix difficulty:** easy · **Typical turnaround:** 2-8 hours

Canonical URL: https://appstorereject.com/rejections/apple/1/guideline-12-safety-user-generated-content-missing-required-features

## Description

Apple is rejecting your app because it includes user-generated content (UGC) or social networking features but is missing one or more of the four required safety features. This is one of the single most common App Store rejections. Apple requires ALL four of the following for any app with UGC: 1. A method for filtering objectionable material from being posted 2. A mechanism to report offensive content and timely responses to concerns 3. The ability to block abusive users from the service 4. Published contact information so users can easily reach you This rejection catches many developers because any form of user interaction counts as UGC — comments, reviews, photo uploads, profile bios, chat messages, forum posts, or even custom usernames. If users can post anything that other users can see, you need all four features. The rejection is usually straightforward and not a judgment call — Apple is checking a literal checklist. If any one item is missing, you'll be rejected. The fix is mechanical: implement the missing feature(s) and resubmit.

## Common variations

- App is missing a method for filtering objectionable material
- App does not include a mechanism to report offensive content
- App lacks the ability to block abusive users
- App does not include published contact information for users to reach you
- User-generated content app is missing required safety features

## Example rejection email

```
Guideline 1.2 - Safety - User-Generated Content

Your app enables the display of user-generated content but does not include the required features to moderate this content and ensure the safety of users.

Specifically, your app is missing:
- [One or more of: a method for filtering objectionable material / a mechanism for reporting offensive content / the ability to block abusive users / published contact information]

Next Steps:
Please revise your app to include all of the following:
- A method for filtering objectionable material from being posted to the app
- A mechanism to report offensive content and timely responses to concerns
- The ability to block abusive users from the service
- Published contact information so users can easily reach you

For resources on designing safe user-generated content experiences, you may want to review the User-Generated Content best practices.
```

## Resolution steps

## Quick Assessment
- **Risk level:** Low — this is a checklist rejection with a clear fix
- **Resolution path:** Fix & Resubmit
- **Typical turnaround:** 2-8 hours

## The Fix

01. **Implement content filtering** — Add a profanity/keyword filter on text input. For images, add NSFW detection. This doesn't need to be perfect — Apple wants to see you have a system in place.

02. **Add a report button** — Every piece of user content (comments, posts, images, profiles) needs a visible 'Report' option. Include a reason selector (spam, offensive, harassment, etc.) and ensure reports are stored and can be actioned.

03. **Add user blocking** — Users must be able to block other users. Once blocked, the blocked user's content should be hidden from the blocker. This needs to be accessible from the other user's profile or from any piece of their content.

04. **Add contact information** — Display a support email or contact form in the app's settings or about screen. This must be a real, monitored contact method — not just a website link.

05. **Document everything in Review Notes** — Tell Apple exactly where each feature is: 'Report button is on each post (tap ... menu), Block is on user profiles, Contact us is in Settings > Support, Content filter uses [approach].'

## Prevention
- Build all four UGC safety features before submitting any app with social features
- Create a UGC compliance checklist as part of your pre-submission review
- Even if your app only has a comments section, you need all four features

## Before / after examples

**Before:** Social app with user posts and comments but no report button, no block feature, and no published contact info
**After:** Every post/comment has a Report option, every user profile has a Block button, Settings screen shows support email, and a keyword filter screens new posts
**Why it works:** All four required UGC safety features must be present and accessible.

## Common questions

**How long does this typically take to fix?**

Typical turnaround is 2-8 hours (difficulty: easy). After resubmission, most re-reviews complete within 24-48 hours.

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*Machine-readable source: https://api.appstorereject.com/api/rejections/detail?slug=guideline-12-safety-user-generated-content-missing-required-features*