Do Apple's in-app charges 'prey on children'?
God love my pops, but he’s not exactly Rembrandt on an iPad.
He bought one of the Apple tablets last year and, in between solitaire sessions in front of the TV at night, he pretty much resorts to mashing his fingers on the screen to operate the thing; aware but not totally conscious of what he’s pressing and when.
Though he’s not completely dreadful at using the iPad … um, how best to connect the dots here … it’s this same issue of “Well, I didn’t know what I pushed!” that’s at the centre of a new controversy in the States, where kids are unwittingly racking up huge charges through apps on iPhones, iPods and the like.
The Washington Post reports that the Federal Trade Commission, responding to horror stories of huge App Store charges, is weighing whether or not to mandate changes in how add-on products and services are marketed through mediums like the iTunes store.
As it stands now, with kids’ games like Smurfberries at least, children can unknowingly rack up massive in-game fees without really grasping how much they’re spending. One girl famously did this earlier in February, piling up $1,400 in charges on things like a “bucket of snowflakes” and a “virtual wagon of Smurfberries” in the game, which is free for download but can charge for such products once the app is launched.
While the girl’s mom fumed – she said she thought Smurfberries, which is rated ages four-plus, “preyed on children” – other parents must surely be able to relate.
As Time.com notes, it’s fine to get your children familiarized with technology, but with the way Apple charges customers (where a credit card is kept on file, thus not necessarily required to be entered every time a purchase is made) the system may lend itself to unwitting abuse.
Now, here’s where the detractors say, “Well, of course, you idiots. You gave your iPhone to a four-year-old without changing the settings so they couldn’t buy anything under your account. A huge charge is bound to happen.”
But should it? Do you think the FTC should step in to change how in-game charges on children’s apps are marketed and levied?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: justin | Feb 24, 2022 8:18:59 PM
lol this by far gets more and more hilarious each year the stuff is there to buy if you want to you dont have to you dont have to give your young children passwords directly linked with your money it stupid why would you if you are that is only your mistake not apples. sit down with you kids and tell them these things I have a iphone i have 500mb limit plan and a credit card on my apple account with alot of ppl that use it relay info teach them what there doing is something to ask about not just letting them go for it cause now you pay it is a mistake you didnt give them that info. That app was preying on the yoiung child in the first place and you bought into it at all if you dont want the hassle dont get the apps if you want the app show them what is going on and its a simple yes or no. Pp rteally need to think now adays
Posted by: Richard | Feb 25, 2022 12:09:44 AM
Buy your 4 year old some Lego blocks or other toys idiots !!! Otherwise, your kids will have carpal tunnel by the age of 10, need glasses by age 14 and be brain dead like their text messaging contemporaries by the age of 16.
Posted by: don | Feb 25, 2022 12:36:19 PM
No symapthy here. Hopefully a lesson was learned but it is the parnet who handed them the phone.
Posted by: brad | Feb 25, 2022 1:41:28 PM
I find it stupid that apple makes you put in a credit card number even if you just want free apps. I think Apple should get rid of this stupid rule and it would solve the problem. Make free apps free no credit card number req.
Posted by: aguy | Feb 25, 2022 3:01:30 PM
brad, you're an idiot. i've downloaded hundreds of free apps and have never put in a credit card number. Its always been like this. People like you just see a screen asking for a credit card and you put it in without thinking.
Posted by: Stacy | Feb 25, 2022 3:39:09 PM
aguy: I don't know how you manged to set up an itunes account, which is required in order to download any apps free or not, without entering a credit card number. When mine was set up it was not an option a credit card number was required. You don't have to enter it everythime you make a purchase but itunes does have it on file.
Posted by: steve | Feb 25, 2022 4:46:17 PM
Most of you are not understanding the issue... there are many applications aimed at children, so you provide your multifunctional device to them... if you think the iphone is just a phone, stop read, you obviously don't know what this thing is... What can and has happened since the last or 2nd last Iphone update, is some applications like the smurf one will ask kids if they want to purchase in game items... in many case, you DO NOT HAVE TO ENTER YOUR ITUNES ACCOUNT NAME OR PASSWORD.. this is a serious issue.. they can charge right to your account without any password.. Now apple has a function to not allow in app purchases, but it's not well publicised, most people find out after the fact when they are trying to find out what happened... this is in my opinion sneeky changes... also.. if I read another note correctly, it may not even identify the cost, just "do you want to purchase xxx" of course a kid playing a kid game will say yes.. ITunes does not do enough to protect the owner of the credit card from unauthorized use, and in my opinion should have a class action suit against it.
Posted by: Richard | Feb 25, 2022 4:47:23 PM
Methinks Stacy and brad should get together somewhere and cross eyed NDP idiot children together.
Posted by: Jordan | Feb 25, 2022 9:43:14 PM
Here's an idea, get rid of your iphone's and go with androids! Save yourself the trouble. Why pay for apps when there are phones out there offering the apps for free without passwords, usernames, or credit cards.
Besides, like 90% of the apps that you pay for on iphone are free on android. How do I know this? Buddy owns a iphone.
Jordan
Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate Owner
Posted by: D D | Mar 1, 2022 11:03:03 AM
I'm totally with Richard on this one. Kids, especially very young children do not need iphones or any kind of similar electronics. What they need are good old fashioned toys to exercise their minds and be creative. These electronic games are going to turn them into zombies just like the older kids are now. It's sad.
Posted by: parent | Mar 2, 2022 10:34:46 PM
It's funny how when we purchase something from apple or even to download something for free, it requires our password but in a kids app, only a confirmation button pops out? Since the ipad and iphone always asks for the password, not in a million years would I think it was so easy to purchase in game contents or I would have never handled it to my 5 yr old without looking up some type of restriction! It's like having your Pay Per View with 1 click on your remote!!! So, kids shouldn't watch TV? then why do they make kids channels? We are parents, we are not dumb! and I certainly believe that is a lack of security from apple's side but I guess it's because they are making tons of money too because many people can go on without noticing small charges on their bank/credit card accounts.
Posted by: Carrie | Apr 18, 2021 1:57:33 PM
I'm sorry, but I think parents are getting more and more lazy, and maybe if they have to pay for a charge, there kids did. Maybe its awake up call, Get off your butts, and play with your kids!