{"id":18601,"date":"2021-07-29T17:43:11","date_gmt":"2021-07-29T13:43:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/save-credit-card-from-games-teens\/18601\/"},"modified":"2021-07-29T17:43:11","modified_gmt":"2021-07-29T13:43:11","slug":"save-credit-card-from-games-teens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/save-credit-card-from-games-teens\/18601\/","title":{"rendered":"How to protect your credit card from a young gamer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leaving your credit card unattended can have serious repercussions for your family\u2019s financial well-being if a young gamer gets hold of it. Kids don\u2019t have the same control over their spending as adults. They might not even understand they\u2019re spending real money. A teenager who\u2019s crazy about a game can blow thousands of dollars and empty out their parents\u2019 bank account without even realizing it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So, what are kids buying in games, and what can you do to keep your money safe from those up-and-coming e-sports stars?<\/p>\n

Where game developers make money<\/h2>\n

Some parents think the spending is over after they buy a game. That misconception can cost them a fortune. Many game developers don\u2019t earn money from the actual program. Some games can even be installed free but charge for all kinds of extras. So what can gamers spend real money on in a virtual universe?<\/p>\n

In-game currency<\/h3>\n

In a virtual economy, in-game currencies work in pretty much the same way dollars or euros work in the real world. In games, you can never have too much money. You can exchange small or large sums of real money for virtual currency at any time, however; with just a couple of clicks you can top up your gaming account\u00a0\u2014 and empty your bank account.<\/p>\n

In-game items<\/h3>\n

Other sources of expenditure include a plethora of weapons, armor, and other equipment \u2014 even just clothing for the player\u2019s avatar. Teenagers buy these items to improve their character\u2019s performance, or just to express themselves. And some items come with a hefty price tag: Take the Echoing Fury mace in Diablo III<\/em>, for example, which once sold for $14,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One type of in-game goods is worth highlighting here: loot boxes, which are prize crates containing a random selection of virtual items. In a game, they\u2019re a bit like lottery tickets: Players buy boxes without knowing what\u2019s inside\u00a0\u2014 they could contain truly game-changing items or just some mediocre customization options. Game developers tend to use their own terminology for loot boxes. For example, FIFA footballers come in \u201cpacks.\u201d Packs can contain Premier League stars such as Messi or Ronaldo or run-of the-mill players from small-town clubs. Of course, chances of getting the latter are way higher.<\/p>\n

Boosters<\/h3>\n

As in real life, the road to fame and fortune can be rocky in a game. That\u2019s why players who don\u2019t want to spend hours training their character to level up the hard way look for shortcuts and buy boosters or time-savers, temporary optimizers that give players a competitive edge. For example, boosters can instantly increase a character\u2019s strength and agility or attract better in-game loot.<\/p>\n

Disabling ads<\/h3>\n

Banners that cover half the screen or video clips that keep interrupting your session are a nuisance we\u2019re all familiar with, even those of us who know nothing about gaming. Seeing as developers generate their revenue from advertising, they often give users the simple option of paying a certain amount of money to get rid of the ads. This usually blocks ads for good, but in some cases gamers have to make regular subscription payments to keep ads at bay.<\/p>\n\n

Pitfalls and laws<\/h2>\n

Honest developers \u2014 and they do exist \u2014 sell their products without trying to manipulate players, but plenty of others use a variety of psychological methods to trick gamers into splurging.<\/p>\n

Some of the less-ethical developers of video games use the same tricks as casino owners. They invite players to try their luck and win a unique prize in a loot box, although the chances of getting a coveted item are almost zero. This type of manipulation makes gamers pay more money, more often, hoping to win their desired prize. Even adult gamers often get reeled in.<\/p>\n

Some developers intentionally make players perform countless repetitive and monotonous tasks to develop their characters and advance in the game. When that happens, there\u2019s bound to be an icon somewhere near the progress bar that players can click to buy a booster.<\/p>\n

In some cases, buying items is the only way to win. No matter how good a teenager may be at a game, for example, they can easily be trumped by any rival with a precious artifact. That puts pressure on the unfortunate gamers to buy the same item. Gaming communities call the strategy \u201cpay-to-win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Developers have loads more tricks up their sleeves. For example, app creators can sell games at a fixed price and then demand a subscription payment for content that\u2019s already been purchased, or even for the right to continue playing the game.<\/p>\n

Many experts have long decried the current state of affairs<\/a>. For example, Britain\u2019s National Health Service (NHS) recently declared that loot boxes are setting kids up for gambling addictions. The United States is beginning to add an 18+ age rating to games with loot boxes, and Japan has banned a variation known as \u201ccomplete gacha.\u201d Laws against loot boxes exist in China, the Netherlands, and Belgium, but the gimmick remains unregulated in many countries. If your child\u2019s favorite game keeps prompting them to buy boxes filled with random prizes, take action and read our tips on protecting yourself and your child.<\/p>\n

How to handle in-game purchases<\/h2>\n

Now that you know what teenagers are spending money on in virtual games, you\u2019ll be able to speak the same language with your child. All that\u2019s left is to figure out how to protect them and keep them from wasting money \u2014 without losing their trust.<\/p>\n

Ban games altogether<\/h3>\n

The most radical yet least effective approach is to ban a teenager from playing any games. Take that step and you\u2019re bound to sour the relationship and teach your child to sneak around. Whether the measure will be of any use remains a question. Backed against a wall, teens will play games at friends\u2019 houses, snoop around parents\u2019 phones and computers to find passwords, and may start using a second phone or come up with other ploys.<\/p>\n

Is the battle worthwhile? After all, there\u2019s nothing wrong with playing games. Gaming is a hobby that can help kids socialize, learn about modern technology, and even think about who they want to be when they grow up<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s young gamers are learning programming languages on their own and creating their own games<\/a>. Just think, the kid glued to a screen slaying monsters in the next room could grow up to be the head of a major IT company!<\/p>\n

Block access to your money<\/h3>\n

Just because your child likes games, they won\u2019t necessarily squander your savings. As a precaution, however, we recommend keeping credit cards and payment-ready phones off-limits (and out of sight). Also, set a short timeout for the screen lock on your smartphone and disable notifications with payment confirmation codes so they don\u2019t pop up on your lock screen.<\/p>\n

Create a child account<\/h3>\n

Many digital distribution platforms including PlayStation Store<\/a> and the Xbox Games Store<\/a> have child account options. Not only do they offer basic parental controls such as a screen-time limit and block inappropriate and mature content, but they also allow you to disable all purchases or set a spending limit. If your teenager prefers playing smartphone games, for example, prevent in-app purchases through an Apple<\/a> or Google<\/a> family account.<\/p>\n

Talk to your child<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important to keep having conversations with your kids so that you don\u2019t feel you have to hide money from them. Try to understand what they\u2019re asking for, discuss their favorite games with them, find out what their wishes are and what they\u2019d like to buy. Keeping up with your teenager will show them you really care about their interests and take them seriously. This approach will help you build a trusting relationship with your teen, and you\u2019ll be able to suggest far more interesting ideas for ways to spend money outside the game.<\/p>\n

Depending on your budget, you can look at real things you\u2019re willing to spend money on instead of virtual purchases. It can be fairly easy to get the message across to your kid that a new gaming mouse or headphones would be a better purchase than a skin pack and a booster.<\/p>\n

Teach schoolchildren financial literacy<\/h3>\n

Teach your child how to control their own spending by setting up a personal card for them, and keep small amounts of money on it. If you don\u2019t give them an allowance, now would be a good time to start. Let your teenager decide how to spend it. The sooner a schoolchild learns that splurging on games means forgoing concert tickets or new sneakers, the sooner they\u2019ll learn to budget and spend money wisely.<\/p>\n

Dealing with the consequences<\/h2>\n

What should you do if a young gamer already has you in the red?<\/p>\n