The practice of artificially inflating ratings and reviews within mobile application marketplaces involves employing various strategies to generate positive feedback, often through incentivized or fabricated user accounts. This action aims to improve an app’s visibility and perceived quality within the app store ecosystem. An example would be a developer paying users to post five-star reviews, even if they have limited or no experience with the application.
This manipulation of app store ratings holds significance due to its direct impact on app discoverability and user perception. Higher ratings typically lead to increased downloads and revenue. Historically, the focus on quantifiable metrics, such as star ratings, has inadvertently created an environment conducive to these tactics, as developers strive for a competitive advantage. The importance is rooted in the fact that users frequently base their download decisions on app store reviews, making them a critical factor in an app’s success. The main benefit for the app developer who does this is to increase their ranking to get higher download.
