Prevent In-App Purchases: Protecting Your Kids & Your Wallet

The Hidden Costs of "Free" Mobile Games

A significant financial burden – exceeding $5000 – was incurred by one individual due to their child’s activity within seemingly complimentary games on an iPad.

While numerous games are promoted as being without charge, many employ strategies to encourage substantial in-app purchases.

Understanding In-App Purchase Risks

Younger children, in particular, may lack the understanding that selecting options to acquire additional content within a free game will result in actual charges to a linked credit card.

The convenience of having payment information stored on tablets and smartphones can inadvertently lead to unauthorized spending.

Protecting Against Unexpected Charges

• Parental Controls: Utilize the parental control features available on your device to restrict in-app purchases.
• Password Protection: Require a password for all purchases, ensuring the account holder’s explicit authorization.
• Regular Monitoring: Periodically review your credit card statements for any unfamiliar or unexpected charges.

It’s crucial to be aware that the term “free” in the context of mobile gaming often comes with the potential for hidden costs.

Careful monitoring and proactive security measures are essential to prevent unintended financial consequences.

Understanding In-App Purchases

App stores on operating systems such as iOS, Android, and Windows Phone facilitate in-app purchases within applications downloaded from their platforms. Consider a scenario where a movie streaming application is installed; a user can browse and select a film for rental directly within the app.

The transaction for this rental is then processed as an in-app purchase, charging the user’s credit card without requiring them to exit the application. This exemplifies the core functionality of in-app purchases.

The Rise of Freemium Games

A growing trend in the gaming industry involves a shift from traditional paid models to “freemium” models. With freemium games, the initial download is often free, but continued gameplay or access to certain features is contingent upon making payments.

These payments can range from small amounts for additional levels to larger expenditures on in-game items. Unfortunately, some freemium games employ aggressive monetization strategies, potentially leading players to spend significant sums on items with limited value.

Ethical Concerns and Vulnerable Users

While some freemium games utilize in-app purchases responsibly, others, especially those aimed at younger audiences, have been criticized for employing questionable business practices.

The game Tap Fish, previously highlighted by The Daily Show, serves as a stark example. Within the game, virtual fish require regular feeding to survive; failure to do so results in their demise.

However, players are given the option to revive deceased fish by spending real money, raising ethical concerns about exploiting users, particularly children.

Potential for Unethical Practices

The design of in-app purchases within games targeted at children can be particularly problematic. The pressure to maintain virtual pets or progress in a game can encourage impulsive spending.

This can lead to unexpectedly high costs, making these ostensibly “free” games potentially more expensive than their paid counterparts. It’s crucial to be aware of these potential pitfalls.

iPhone & iPad: Managing In-App Purchases

The iOS operating system, developed by Apple, provides a feature called Restrictions that allows users to control in-app purchases. This functionality enables the creation of a passcode, which is then required for any attempt to make a purchase within an application.

Setting Up Restrictions

To begin, access the Settings application on your device and select the 'General' category.

Within the General settings, locate and tap on 'Restrictions'.

Enable Restrictions by toggling the switch. You will then be prompted to create a passcode. It’s crucial to select a passcode that is known only to you, safeguarding against unauthorized purchases.

Configuring In-App Purchase Controls

After enabling Restrictions, scroll down to the section labeled 'Allowed Content'.

Within Allowed Content, find the 'In-App Purchases' option and toggle it to the 'Off' position. This will trigger a password request each time an in-app purchase is initiated.

Password Requirement Settings

To maximize control, adjust the 'Require Password' setting to 'Immediately'.

This ensures that your passcode will be requested for every in-app purchase attempt. The default setting of 15 minutes permits purchases without a password for a short period after initial authentication.

By setting it to 'Immediately', you eliminate this window of opportunity for unintended spending.

Android

Within Google’s Play Store, a PIN can be established to safeguard purchases. This PIN will be required whenever an application is bought or when in-app purchases are initiated.

Setting Up a PIN

The process for setting up a purchase PIN is straightforward. Follow these steps to activate this security feature.

• First, launch the Google Play Store application on your device.
• Next, tap the menu icon and navigate to the Settings section.
• Within the Settings menu, locate and select “Set or change PIN” under the “User Controls” heading.
• A PIN should then be created, ensuring it is not easily discernible to children.
• Finally, ensure the “Use PIN for purchases” option is enabled.

By activating this feature, you add a layer of security to prevent unauthorized spending. This is particularly useful for households with children who may have access to the device.

Kindle Fire

The Amazon Appstore, featured on the Kindle Fire, provides options to limit in-app purchases, with the capability to completely deactivate them.

• Access the Store application, select the menu button, and choose Settings.
• Select the Parental Controls option.
• Check the box to Enable Parental Controls. This will require your Amazon.com password for each purchase made. A PIN can also be established for purchases by tapping Use PIN.

Alternatively, you can select In-App Purchasing from the settings menu and disable it altogether. However, it’s important to note that this setting can be reactivated from the same location if parental controls aren't also enabled.

Implementing restrictions on in-app purchases is particularly crucial when younger users are accessing the device.

This preventative measure can avoid the need for potentially embarrassing explanations to media outlets, and the subsequent effort to persuade companies like Apple to reverse substantial charges.

Protecting against unauthorized spending is far preferable to dealing with significant credit card disputes.

Image Credit: 401(K) 2013 on Flickr