High levels of in-app purchases and intrusive pop-up advertising: The market watchdogs have asked the providers of the children's game apps “My Talking Angela” and “Dog Run” to cease and desist.
The essentials in brief:
- The market watchdogs have warned the providers of the apps “My Talking Angela” and “Dog Run”.
- In the game apps for children, large amounts of up to 109.99 euros can be spent through in-app purchases with just one click.
- In addition, users are repeatedly asked to make in-app purchases through intrusive pop-up advertising within the game. Children in particular cannot judge such offers critically.
The first provider to be warned, “Outfit7 Limited”, operates a free game app called “My Talking Angela”, in which the player adopts and raises a virtual kitten. Due to its design and the special range of games, “My Talking Angela” is aimed specifically at children of primary school age, especially younger girls, according to the market watchdog experts from the Rhineland-Palatinate Consumer Center.
Around a hundred euros for virtual currency
To raise the cat faster or purchase virtual accessories, users can purchase in-game currency in the form of diamonds and coins. The costs for a single purchase are up to 99.99 euros or 109.99 euros, depending on the operating system.
Make money from children's play instincts
Large amounts of in-app purchases in game apps are not uncommon.
The providers apparently shamelessly exploit the children's business inexperience and play instinct. From the point of view of the market watchdog experts, it should not be the case that a hundred euros or more can be spent with just one click on a game app designed for children. However, the market watchdog Digitale Welt is repeatedly being reported cases in which children have quickly spent several thousand euros on game apps. The Rhineland-Palatinate market watchdog team has therefore warned another game app provider for high in-app purchases and intrusive advertising. The provider “Green Tea Games Limited” operates the gaming app “Dog Run”. In this jump-and-run game, the user takes on the role of a puppy who has to jump over various obstacles to avoid being caught. He collects coins. In this app you can also spend up to 99.99 euros with one click.
Intrusive pop-up advertising encourages you to buy
In both games, users are constantly asked through pop-up advertisements to make in-app purchases and pay for the virtual game currency with euros. The providers sometimes advertise with slogans such as “super discount” as well as high discounts and digital discount countdowns. The market watchdog experts also criticize this: the children are personally and suddenly persuaded to buy by such appeals, without being able to critically assess the offer.
The market watchdog team is calling on both the app provider “Outfit7 Limited” and “Green Tea Games Limited” to end what they believe are unfair practices.
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