They don’t want a lot of apps doing the same thing, so they won’t approve other submissions. https://t.co/5q9R8H3iio — WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) 1542501626000

Instant messaging platform WhatsApp recently rolled out sticker support for both its iOS and Android users. Soon after it was launched, both the operating system platforms had numerous third-party apps that would allow the users to get new stickers. WhatsApp users could simply download these apps and get new stickers that were otherwise not natively part of WhatsApp.But now, as per WABetaInfo, the Twitter account that keeps a track on the upcoming WhatsApp features, Apple is removing all third-party WhatsApp Sticker apps from its App Store as they "are violating their guidelines."WaBetaInfo even gave three reasons for which Apple is doing this. Firstly, it says that the App Store has too many apps with similar behaviour. Secondly, in order to download these apps, having WhatsApp is a pre-requisite, which is against their policy as apps should not require another apps in order to use them. Lastly, WABetaInfo states that the design of these apps is also the same.WhatsApp has not said anything on the matter as of now, but the guidelines of creating WhatsApp stickers for iOS do state that "A separate app is necessary and it will reside on your phone's home screen just like any other app. Once you add the stickers from the app to WhatsApp, you can remove or uninstall the app from your phone and continue to send those stickers."Last week it was reported that Facebook-owned WhatsApp is working on rolling out the search option while using stickers. According to the same Twitter handle (WABetaInfo), this feature is under development as of now and will be available in future to Android users, which should soon be followed by iOS as well.