Ad Targeting

Configure ad targeting options for content rating and user demographics

Overview

AdMob Plus provides targeting options to ensure appropriate ads are shown to your users based on content ratings, age, and other factors. These settings help you comply with regulations and improve ad relevance.

Configuration Options

Targeting options can be set globally via configure() or per-request when creating ads. Global configuration affects all subsequent ad requests.

RequestConfig Interface

The RequestConfig interface defines targeting options:

interface RequestConfig {
  maxAdContentRating?: MaxAdContentRating;
  tagForChildDirectedTreatment?: boolean | null;
  tagForUnderAgeOfConsent?: boolean | null;
  testDeviceIds?: string[];
}

Max Ad Content Rating

Set the maximum ad content rating for your app to control the maturity level of ads shown.

Rating Values

maxAdContentRating · MaxAdContentRating

Maximum ad content rating:

• 'G' - General audiences (suitable for all ages, including families)
• 'PG' - Parental guidance suggested (suitable for most audiences)
• 'T' - Teen (suitable for ages 13 and older)
• 'MA' - Mature audiences only (suitable for ages 17 and older)
• '' - Unspecified (default, no content rating filter)

Usage

// Set globally for all ads
await admob.configure({
  maxAdContentRating: 'PG',
});

Examples by App Type

// Family-friendly app
await admob.configure({
  maxAdContentRating: 'G',
});

// General audience app
await admob.configure({
  maxAdContentRating: 'PG',
});

// Teen-focused app
await admob.configure({
  maxAdContentRating: 'T',
});

// Mature content app
await admob.configure({
  maxAdContentRating: 'MA',
});

Content ratings follow industry standards similar to movie/TV ratings (MPAA, TV Parental Guidelines).

Child-Directed Treatment

Indicate whether your app’s content is directed at children under 13 (COPPA compliance).

Configuration

tagForChildDirectedTreatment · boolean | null

Tag for child-directed treatment:

• true - Content is directed at children under 13
• false - Content is not directed at children under 13
• null - You have not indicated how you want your content treated (default)

Usage

// App directed at children
await admob.configure({
  tagForChildDirectedTreatment: true,
  maxAdContentRating: 'G', // Recommended for child-directed apps
});

// App NOT directed at children
await admob.configure({
  tagForChildDirectedTreatment: false,
});

// Mixed audience (unspecified)
await admob.configure({
  tagForChildDirectedTreatment: null, // Default
});

When set to true, ads will be limited to those appropriate for children. This may reduce ad revenue but is required for COPPA compliance.

Under Age of Consent

Indicate whether users are under the age of consent for GDPR purposes (typically 16 in most EU countries).

Configuration

tagForUnderAgeOfConsent · boolean | null

Tag for users under age of consent:

• true - Users are under the age of consent
• false - Users are not under the age of consent
• null - Not specified (default)

Usage

// Users under age of consent
await admob.configure({
  tagForUnderAgeOfConsent: true,
});

// Users not under age of consent
await admob.configure({
  tagForUnderAgeOfConsent: false,
});

This setting affects how consent is collected and what data can be used for ad personalization under GDPR.

Per-Ad Targeting

While less common, you can set targeting options per ad request by extending the ad options:

const banner = new admob.BannerAd({
  adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/6300978111',
  // RequestConfig options can be passed here
  // (requires custom implementation or future SDK support)
});

Additional Ad Options

When creating ads, you can also set these targeting parameters:

Content URL

const banner = new admob.BannerAd({
  adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/6300978111',
  contentUrl: 'https://example.com/article/123',
});

contentUrl · string

URL string for a webpage whose content matches the app content. Used for keyword targeting.

Keywords

const interstitial = new admob.InterstitialAd({
  adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/1033173712',
  keywords: ['sports', 'basketball', 'news'],
});

keywords · string[]

Array of keywords for keyword targeting. Helps serve more relevant ads.

Non-Personalized Ads

const rewarded = new admob.RewardedAd({
  adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/5224354917',
  npa: '1', // Request non-personalized ads
});

npa · '1'

Set to '1' to request non-personalized ads (no behavioral targeting). Used for GDPR compliance when users don’t consent to personalized ads.

Complete Examples

Family-Friendly App

document.addEventListener('deviceready', async () => {
  await admob.start();
  
  // Configure for children
  await admob.configure({
    maxAdContentRating: 'G',
    tagForChildDirectedTreatment: true,
    testDeviceIds: ['YOUR_TEST_DEVICE_ID'],
  });
  
  // All ads will now be child-appropriate
  const banner = new admob.BannerAd({
    adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/6300978111',
  });
  await banner.show();
}, false);

Teen App with Keywords

document.addEventListener('deviceready', async () => {
  await admob.start();
  
  // Configure for teens
  await admob.configure({
    maxAdContentRating: 'T',
    tagForChildDirectedTreatment: false,
  });
  
  // Banner with keyword targeting
  const banner = new admob.BannerAd({
    adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/6300978111',
    keywords: ['gaming', 'esports', 'streaming'],
  });
  await banner.show();
  
  // Interstitial with content URL
  const interstitial = new admob.InterstitialAd({
    adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/1033173712',
    contentUrl: 'https://example.com/games',
  });
  await interstitial.load();
}, false);

European User Under Age of Consent

document.addEventListener('deviceready', async () => {
  await admob.start();
  
  // User is under age of consent in EU
  await admob.configure({
    maxAdContentRating: 'PG',
    tagForUnderAgeOfConsent: true,
  });
  
  // Request non-personalized ads
  const banner = new admob.BannerAd({
    adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/6300978111',
    npa: '1', // Non-personalized ads only
  });
  await banner.show();
}, false);

Dynamic Configuration Based on User

function configureForUser(user) {
  const config = {
    testDeviceIds: ['YOUR_TEST_DEVICE_ID'],
  };
  
  // Adjust based on user age
  if (user.age < 13) {
    config.maxAdContentRating = 'G';
    config.tagForChildDirectedTreatment = true;
  } else if (user.age < 18) {
    config.maxAdContentRating = 'T';
    config.tagForChildDirectedTreatment = false;
  } else {
    config.maxAdContentRating = 'MA';
    config.tagForChildDirectedTreatment = false;
  }
  
  // GDPR: Check age of consent (16 in most EU countries)
  if (user.region === 'EU' && user.age < 16) {
    config.tagForUnderAgeOfConsent = true;
  }
  
  return admob.configure(config);
}

// Usage
document.addEventListener('deviceready', async () => {
  await admob.start();
  
  const user = getCurrentUser();
  await configureForUser(user);
  
  // Load ads
  const banner = new admob.BannerAd({
    adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/6300978111',
    // Add npa if user hasn't consented to personalized ads
    npa: user.hasConsentedToAds ? undefined : '1',
  });
  await banner.show();
}, false);

Server-Side Verification (Rewarded Ads)

For rewarded ads, you can add server-side verification parameters:

const rewarded = new admob.RewardedAd({
  adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/5224354917',
  serverSideVerification: {
    userId: 'user123',
    customData: 'level5_reward',
  },
});

await rewarded.load();
await rewarded.show();

serverSideVerification.userId · string

User identifier for server-side verification callbacks.

serverSideVerification.customData · string

Custom data to include in server-side verification callbacks.

Compliance Guidelines

COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)

Set tagForChildDirectedTreatment: true if your app targets children under 13

Use maxAdContentRating: 'G' for child-directed apps

Ensure your privacy policy complies with COPPA requirements

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

Set tagForUnderAgeOfConsent: true for EU users under 16

Use npa: '1' when users haven’t consented to personalized ads

Implement proper consent flow (see Consent Guide)

Best Practices

Set content rating based on your app’s content, not your desired revenue.

Be conservative with age-related settings - err on the side of caution.

Misrepresenting your app’s audience or content can result in policy violations and account suspension.

When in doubt about which settings to use, consult with legal counsel familiar with advertising regulations.

Testing

Test your targeting configuration:

// Test different content ratings
const testConfigs = [
  { name: 'General', maxAdContentRating: 'G' },
  { name: 'Parental Guidance', maxAdContentRating: 'PG' },
  { name: 'Teen', maxAdContentRating: 'T' },
  { name: 'Mature', maxAdContentRating: 'MA' },
];

for (const config of testConfigs) {
  console.log(`Testing: ${config.name}`);
  await admob.configure({
    ...config,
    testDeviceIds: ['YOUR_TEST_DEVICE_ID'],
  });
  
  // Load and inspect ads
  const banner = new admob.BannerAd({
    adUnitId: 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/6300978111',
  });
  await banner.show();
  
  // Wait and observe
  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5000));
  await banner.hide();
}

Related

• Configuration - General SDK configuration
• Consent - User consent management for GDPR/CCPA
• Test Ads - Testing ads during development
• AdMob Policy Guidelines