How to protect your wallet from rash purchases gaming children: 10 tips for parents
Technologies / / December 19, 2019
The web often pop up stories about how the child spent hundreds or thousands of dollars, making in-game purchases at the map of one of the parents. Examples of this are many. So, in March 2015 the Internet had spread the news about the boy to spend 4500 dollars to purchase FIFA, in which he played the xBox. In autumn 2014 it became known about a teenager to spend 46,000 dollars a shareware game Game of War: Fire Age. In 2013, a five-year kid managed 10 minutes to spend 1700 pounds to purchase Zombies vs Ninjas. The forums and blogs full of affected parents who lost less impressive sums such as $ 300-400. However, even that kind of money, cast without the knowledge of parents for virtual property, - this is a serious problem.
"Often the stories of children who spent the round sums on games contain mention of the fact that the child did not know what to spend real money. It is possible, if the game does not require any verification codes to make a payment, and the purchase is made in a single click. In this in-game purchases are usually very attractive to the fragile psyche: they give a distinct advantage in the game (Speed up the development, make the character stronger, give tips on how to pass the level), - says Maria Namestnikova. - Interestingly, many games with built-in shopping can be played for free or by paying only for its installation, but children usually impatient and curious to find out why the proposal is to complete the level, or significantly increase the hero acts on them like a red rag to bull. "
Here are some tips from our experts to help parents protect their wallet from rash purchases of game children.
1. Explain to your child that in-game purchases are spending real money. Even if you do not mind that the child made such acquisitions, better arrange that for them it will turn to you. Do not stop at a simple resolution to download everything for free, or spend no more than 500 rubles a month - the child may often do not even realize that spending your money.
2. possibly Do not tie your card to your account, Which plays a child, regardless of the device. This is a key rule. It can fully protect against uncontrolled spending of money in games. But its observance is not always possible or convenient. If you fail to comply with this rule, be sure to observe all the rest.
3.Cheaper to buy ten paid games without internal purchasesThan to serve one free. Install the game with your child, the better to choose those that do not contain internal purchases, even if they cost a few dollars. Ten paid games without internal purchases will almost certainly cost you less than one free with the ability to spend money in the game. Note: Paid games do not always contain in-game purchases!
4. With extreme caution approach the competitive games. In such games, there is always the domestic purchase, and they are highly sought after: to defeat another player is much more difficult than to win the program. The opportunity to take advantage of the money looks very tempting, even for adults, let alone children and adolescents. Not always competitive games certainly involve depositing money to win, but there are those in which the child will not be able to play successfully without making in-game purchases.
5. use special protection program with parental control features, such as Kaspersky Safe Kids. This way you can restrict visiting sites that distribute pirated software, as well as to prohibit child play games that are not designed for their age, and to limit the time spent playing whole.
"Parents should remember that curious and restless children can play on any device, be it a computer, smartphone, tablet, or set-top box. To protect their finances against unjustified wastage should select different security policies depending on the gadget, which uses your child, "- said Maria Namestnikova.
6. If your child plays in "brauzerki" on the PC, the easiest way to protect yourself from domestic purchases in these games - not to allow the child to your credit card. Browser games, as opposed to games on a tablet or phone, do not have direct access to your financial information. Besides, Be sure to use the time control program parental controlsBecause browser games can be a very long time to tighten the child, they are almost always "free" and full of opportunities to spend money in the process. It also includes and games for social networks, which are often built on competition with other players. This competition - the best motivation for uncontrolled spending money.
7.game client on the computer are several other hazards. Firstly, the fact that they are almost always paid, causing a child tempted to find a way to download a pirated version of the game. And it is always a threat to the security of your computer. Secondly, free poker games - it's usually the IMO, most of which involves domestic purchases to take advantage over other players.
To solve these problems, use the following algorithm. Install comprehensive protection of Internet Security LevelSuch as Kaspersky Internet Security, which will protect your PC from malicious software, as well as provide parental control features to protect against in-game purchases. In addition, a special set a program for downloading games (Steam, Origins and so on). Get separate account itself and a separate child. Do not tie to the child's account, his card. If you want to buy a game for your child, choose "Buy as a gift" in his account and give the game or use the function FamilySharing, allowing to give selective access to games purchased on your account, the young player who uses the same computer. And, of course, keep your card inaccessible to children.
8.Games for mobile devices often include the possibility of domestic purchases, even if they did not originally free. If the child's own device, get him to a separate account and is not tied to him his card, making all purchases as a gift through your own account. That should be enough that the baby was not able to make in-game purchases. If the child is using your gadget or knows your card details, enter additional restrictions. And iOS, and Android allow you to enable the protection of the built-in purchases without using additional software.
9. In iPhone and iPad you must activate the corresponding item in the "Settings» → «Basic settings» → «Restrictions" and enter your password. In addition, we can recommend to use the family access to Apple devices. The function will be useful to parents if a child already has its own "apple" gadget. Using this method, parents should create a separate Apple ID for a child and put him in the family group. All purchases are made members of the family group with a family member card, an organized group. Any purchase of a child will be sent for approval to the parent. This applies to both paid and free apps and content.
10. IN Android devices Open Google Play and click the menu icon in the upper left corner. In the menu, go to Settings, and then make a mark "authentication for purchases." By selecting this option, create a password. As is the case with Apple devices, it should be easy to remember and protected against child recruitment.
"Current trends in the gaming industry dictate the rules: games are increasingly free to install but provide the opportunity to spend real money during the game. Children in such circumstances are not always aware that they spend real money, and even if they understand the simple write-off of money from the parent card is so tempting that kids do not have a long time persuade. However, in this situation the actual saying "Forewarned - is forearmed." Parents aware of the possibility to spend the money in the game, can keep the family budget from such accidental loss, without prohibiting children from playing their favorite games, "- concludes Maria Namestnikova.