| Baby Shaker | |
|---|---|
 A screenshot ofBaby Shaker in which the baby has been killed after 6.4 seconds | |
| Original author | Alex Talbot |
| Developer | Sikalosoft |
| Initial release | 2009; 16 years ago (2009) |
| Operating system | iOS |
| Platform | iPhone |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Non-game |
Baby Shaker is a controversial discontinuedmobile game that was available on theApple App Store for a short time in April 2009. Developed by Sikalosoft, the game features aminigame in which players can quiet an illustration of a baby accompanied by crying noises by either rocking theiriPhone or shaking it, the latter of which results in the depicted baby's death. The app received widespread negative attention across the Internet from accusations of promotingshaken baby syndrome.
Baby Shaker was developed in 2009 by Sikalosoft, which, according toThe Guardian, is operated by a single programmer named Alex Talbot.[1] The game was approved for theApp Store later that year by a team led by Phillip Shoemaker, an Apple employee who was in charge ofiOS app approvals.[2] The game was sold forUS$0.99 (equivalent to $1.45 in 2024).[3]
Baby Shaker solely consists of a minigame in which a timer counts from 0 and the sounds of a baby crying are heard over a black-and-white illustration of a baby. There are two ways players can calm the baby down: they can either rock their iPhone back and forth as if they are cradling a baby in their arms,[2] or they can shake their iPhone, which results in two red Xs appearing over the baby's eyes, symbolizing the baby's death. After the baby stops crying, the user is asked if they would like to play again. The goal of the game is to endure the baby's cries for as long as possible.[4]
Baby Shaker received negative feedback from both parents and child protection groups, accusing the game of promotingshaken baby syndrome[5] andinfanticide;[6] the game's description warned to "Never, never shake a baby".[7] According to Shoemaker, protesters showed up outside ofApple Infinite Loop campus, and he admitted that the app's approval was a mistake on his end.[2] In response to the criticism,Baby Shaker was removed from the App Store on April 23, 2009, two days after its release.[3][8] Apple then issued an apology for approving the app, calling it "deeply offensive".[9]RTVE criticized Apple for not explaining why the app was approved.[10]
