It's not the first time I'm seeing this and, having worked at places that have mobile apps and a ton of UGC, this is as illogical as things get.
Mobile apps go into stores. App stores (especially the Apple app store) have many rules about UGC in apps. Including rules that may be incompatible with ToS of your service. Like the rule saying that NSFW content must not exist.
On your website, on the other hand, you're the king. You set your own rules. There's no one to tell you what can and can't be done unless you're breaking laws so hard some government notices.
So by virtue of that, there's usually LESS content available in the app than on the website. This, though? You have to look at this content in the app BECAUSE it is unreviewed? This is bonkers. This is completely backwards to everything my own experience tells me.
This is just a lame excuse to make you install the app.
I had this exact thought. I believe Reddit is the #1 app/service people point to when discussing how inconsistently this rule is applied (Reddit is simply too big to impose that kind of sanction on, even for Apple.)
Mobile apps go into stores. App stores (especially the Apple app store) have many rules about UGC in apps. Including rules that may be incompatible with ToS of your service. Like the rule saying that NSFW content must not exist.
On your website, on the other hand, you're the king. You set your own rules. There's no one to tell you what can and can't be done unless you're breaking laws so hard some government notices.
So by virtue of that, there's usually LESS content available in the app than on the website. This, though? You have to look at this content in the app BECAUSE it is unreviewed? This is bonkers. This is completely backwards to everything my own experience tells me.
This is just a lame excuse to make you install the app.