Yoto Developer API Guidelines

Welcome to the Yoto Developer Community!

We're absolutely thrilled that you want to join us on this amazing adventure. Whether you're dreaming up ways to connect the Yoto Player to smart home gadgets, creating brilliant new card experiences, or cooking up something we haven't even imagined yet, we can't wait to see what magical ideas you'll bring to life.

To keep Yoto a safe, inspiring place that families love, we need all our brilliant developers to follow these guidelines when building and sharing projects with our API. Think of them as our friendly roadmap to creating something truly special together.

Important: These guidelines work alongside our API Terms and Conditions, which contain the binding legal requirements.

Kids in Control (Age-Appropriate Content)

Amazing things happen when we let children lead the way. Everything you create must be perfectly suited for little ears and curious minds under 13 (or under 16 in some regions).

Keep content positive, age-appropriate, and wonderfully engaging – no scary stuff, nothing violent, and definitely nothing that would make a parent worry. If your project includes audio, visuals, or interactive bits, make sure they spark joy and curiosity, just like everything else in the Yoto universe.

Remember: Content must comply with child protection laws including COPPA (US), GDPR (EU), and the UK Age Appropriate Design Code.

Safe & Sound (No Funny Business!)

We take protecting families seriously - it's part of our DNA. Here's what you need to know:

Data Protection & Privacy

• Never collect, store, or share any personal information about children or families beyond what's absolutely necessary for your app to work
• Get proper parental consent before collecting any child's data as required by law
• Keep data anonymous – never use information obtained via the API for advertising or tracking
• Give parents control – Users should always have crystal-clear control over what data gets used and how
• Report incidents immediately – if there's any data breach or safety concern involving children's data, contact us right away at developers@yotoplay.com

Content Safety

• No copyrighted content – don't upload copyrighted or licensed content to someone else's Yoto Card without proper permission
• Respect user control – only control players when explicitly permitted by the user or owner

Crystal Clear Communication

Explain your brilliant creation in language that's warm, friendly, and jargon-free.

We want parents and developers of all backgrounds to understand exactly what your project does and why it's amazing. If your creation talks to other devices or services, be upfront about what's happening – transparency builds trust, and trust is everything.

Provide clear privacy notices that are age-appropriate for both children and parents to understand.

Quality That Sparkles

Every Yoto experience should be reliable, delightful, and safe. Here's what we expect:

• Test thoroughly before sharing with our community
• Keep API keys secure – never share them publicly or with unauthorised parties
• Follow security best practices – implement strong cybersecurity measures
• Stay updated – keep your projects working with the latest Yoto features
• Moderate content – have systems in place for users to report inappropriate content

Playing by the Rules

Here are some important don'ts:

• Don't reverse engineer or try to extract source code from our APIs.
• Don't circumvent rate limits or usage restrictions.
• Don't use the APIs for anything unlawful, deceptive, or harmful.
• Don't cache or retain user data beyond what's necessary.
• Don't share or sell user data, or track user behaviour without proper consent.

Our Review Process – A Helping Hand

If you'd love to see your project featured or promoted by Yoto, it needs to tick all these guideline boxes. We'll review submissions with care, looking at:

• Safety and child-appropriateness
• Data protection compliance
• Quality and reliability
• Alignment with our brand values

We might suggest tweaks or ask for more details before sharing your work with our wider community—think of it as working together to make something even more brilliant. We may also conduct compliance checks and audits to ensure child safety standards are maintained.

Getting Started & Support

Ready to begin? Here's how:

1. Read our full Terms and Conditions (the legal bits that keep everyone safe)
2. Get your API access through our developer portal
3. Join our community for support and inspiration
4. Build something amazing following these guidelines

Need help? Contact us on our Discord – we're here to support you every step of the way.

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Thank you for helping us create a world where kids can explore safely, families can connect joyfully, and childhood remains life's greatest adventure.

We're genuinely excited to see what you'll build – let's make some magic together!