Google Android Market apps will be required to have a content rating following concerns that the store exposes children to unsuitable content.

Starting over the course of the next few weeks, Market apps will all have one of four different ratings; All, Pre-teen, Teen and Mature, initially rated by the developers themselves.

Developers of current apps will be required to add ratings in the coming weeks, with those that aren't automatically labelled as Mature. The hope is that the more risque content on the Android Market will no longer make it onto the phones of minors.

In a blog post, Google revealed that it was responding to "a top request from Android users."

Eric Chu, who works with the Android Developer Ecosystem says: "Starting in a few weeks, we will be showing content ratings for all applications on Android Market. This new capability will provide users with additional information to help them select the best applications for them."

In the past Google has been criticised, namely by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, for its somewhat laid back attitude towards vetting apps in the past, compared to Apple's total porn lockdown.

Link: Android Developers' blog