My game got the "Teacher Approved" badge on Google Play. But what does that actually mean for players and developers in terms of quality and visibility?

I'm a solo developer, and I want to start a discussion about a topic I've been wrestling with lately: quality-control labels and discovery on mobile platforms. Specifically, Google's "Teacher Approved" program.

Recently, my self-funded indie game was accepted into this program. On the surface, it’s a huge win. A badge appears on my store page, stating that teachers and specialists have vetted my game for being high-quality, well-designed, and appropriate for kids. It felt like a validation of all the late nights and hard work.

But it also made me think, from both a player's and a developer's perspective: What does a label like this 

From a Developer's POV:

>span class="ng-star-inserted">different, smaller pool, but you're still competing. There’s no guarantee of front-page placement. It feels like getting a diploma but still having to fight for your first job. The bigger challenge remains: how do you convince parents to even look for you in the first place, especially when you're a premium, paid-upfront title?

It also imposes strict design constraints. To even qualify, my game had to be a complete, self-contained experience. No ads, no manipulative IAPs, no inappropriate content. These are all things I believe in passionately, but they go against the grain of what is most profitable on the platform. I essentially chose a path of "ethical design," hoping a badge would help it find an audience.

From a Player's/Parent's POV:

When you see a "Teacher Approved" badge, does it actually influence your decision?

• Does it build immediate trust, making you more willing to pay the upfront price of $1.99?
• Do you believe it's a genuine marker of quality, or just another piece of marketing fluff?
• Do you actively seek out these "curated" sections on the store, or do you rely on traditional word-of-mouth, critic reviews, or top charts?

I designed my game, Endless Island TowerDefense-TD, around the principles that this badge supposedly represents. It’s a complete tower defense strategy game with no ads or IAPs, designed to make kids think critically about logic and resource management. But now that it has the badge, the real test begins. Will anyone notice? Does the badge carry enough weight to overcome the "free" barrier?

This leads me to the core of our discussion:

In an ecosystem saturated with algorithm-driven charts and aggressive F2P models, do curated, human-vetted quality labels still have a meaningful impact? Are they a genuine solution for discovering hidden gems, or just a feel-good gesture from the platform holders?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, whether you're a gamer, a parent, or another developer. What's your experience with labels like this on any platform (Steam's curator system, Apple's Editor's Choice, etc.)?