MSE News: 'Immoral' My Little Pony game tempts kids to spend £70 on 'virtual gems'

AAAAA

A spokesman for Gameloft says: "Our games are enjoyed by players of all ages and My Little Pony is no different. The higher price points are designed for adults and hardcore gamers and offer great value for these segments.

100%% wright.

Kite2010

What I can see happening is the default time window between entering a password and requiring it to be entered again will be set to "0", so you have to enter a password for everything.

Won't stop the kiddies whom know the password from running up a massive bill, but maybe Apple should do what Android does and have separate log-ins on the device, so the kids can use one log-in which is limited to having a gift-card only account.

(As for iTunes, the best way is to fund it via gift-cards, as there is nearly always a promotion on to get £25 cards for £20, 3x £15 card for £40 etc)

thelawnet

There is a problem and that is that the Iphone/Ipad is set not to ask for a password by default after you have entered one within the last 15 minutes.

This should not be the default option, since it allows an adult to buy a game for say £1.99, and then a child to use the 15 minute window to run up extra purchases without their knowledge.

That's all that needs to change.

Fire_Fox

thelawnet wrote: »

There is a problem and that is that the Iphone/Ipad is set not to ask for a password by default after you have entered one within the last 15 minutes.

This should not be the default option, since it allows an adult to buy a game for say £1.99, and then a child to use the 15 minute window to run up extra purchases without their knowledge.

That's all that needs to change.

Why does it need to change? The iPad and iPhone are devices designed for and marketed to adults, the default settings are also for adults. Do you also want all the settings for music lyrics, movies and TV shows to default to suitable for a four year old? Why should I be the one to have to reset MY device to protect your child on your device and your bank account? Why can't you use the parental controls that are available to you (see post 37)?

wantmemoney

Irrespective of the rights or wrongs, class action in the US and media reporting in Europe has forced Apple to take some responsibility for their operating system and the various games retailers and marketeers that pay Apple (and possibly Android) to use it.

The only people it should affect are the parties whose main customers appear to include 'irresponsible' parents of small children and 'stupid' people.

can we already hear the squealing of pigs being dragged from the unpoliced/unregulated billing trough?

thelawnet

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Why does it need to change? The iPad and iPhone are devices designed for and marketed to adults

Untrue.

In my local Currys the Ipads are installed with games such as 'Peppa Pig's Day Out' .

Apple also directly market the Ipad for children:

http://www.apple.com/uk/education/apps/

They also prohibit a lot of adult content in their store:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/27/3922500/apple-has-a-!!!!!!-problem-and-its-about-to-get-worse

the default settings are also for adults. Do you also want all the settings for music lyrics, movies and TV shows to default to suitable for a four year old?

I'm pretty sure that there are in fact at least prompts to check this.

Why should I be the one to have to reset MY device to protect your child on your device and your bank account?

It's common sense that you should not leave a fraud window open to your bank account after a purchase. This should NOT be default behaviour making people's bank accounts open to theft. If you want to leave your front door open, that should be your active choice.

I have a friend with an iphone who refuses to add his credit card details. This cripples the functionality of his phone (for instance he couldn't update the free Facebook app, because of errors) but he is worried about identity theft, so I can't really blame him.

Apple and other companies run roughshod over such issues because they want to make it as easy as possible for people to spend as much money as they can, regardless of whether or not children are involved.

Did you know that contracts with children aged under 7 are legally void anyway?

Why can't you use the parental controls that are available to you (see post 37)?

I can, but evidently a lot of people can't, and it makes Apple look exploitative and it also leaves people with a get-out clause when their children run up bills, because the default is to permit this.

Fire_Fox

thelawnet wrote: »

Untrue.

In my local Currys the Ipads are installed with games such as 'Peppa Pig's Day Out' .

Apple also directly market the Ipad for children:

http://www.apple.com/uk/education/apps/

They also prohibit a lot of adult content in their store:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/27/3922500/apple-has-a-!!!!!!-problem-and-its-about-to-get-worse

I'm pretty sure that there are in fact at least prompts to check this.

It's common sense that you should not leave a fraud window open to your bank account after a purchase. This should NOT be default behaviour making people's bank accounts open to theft. If you want to leave your front door open, that should be your active choice.

Apple and other companies run roughshod over such issues because they want to make it as easy as possible for people to spend as much money as they can, regardless of whether or not children are involved.

I can, but evidently a lot of people can't, and it makes Apple look exploitative and it also leaves people with a get-out clause when their children run up bills, because the default is to permit this.

Marketing the iPad to children and offering or marketing apps for use of other members of the family are not the same thing. Apple don't design these games nor do they own Currys AFAIK.

Middle America is religious and conservative: there are plenty of adults who don't want to look at explicit images on their smartphone, or don't want their teens (even older ones) viewing p0rn. The link suggests the withdrawn app contained images that are illegal and that even broad minded adults would find disturbing/ offensive
"The app was removed from the App Store for featuring p0rn0graphic images and material, a clear violation of our guidelines. We also received customer complaints about possible child p0rn0graphy. We've asked the developer to put safeguards in place to prevent p0rn0graphic images and material in their app."

Apple don't preset security generally, for example the passcode is not set up it's for the new owner to find. Is it now Apple's fault if the gadget is used after being stolen if the owner doesn't bother so set a passcode (two thirds don't)? Is that exploitative or is it part of a wider package where ALL features in the 'Restrictions' menu default as the least restrictive option possible?

I honestly fail to see why Apple are taking the fall for this, why not the games designers? Peppa Pig appear to be paid for games with no in app purchases, perhaps this should be the norm? Or perhaps parents should read the blurb in iTunes before downloading, it really is as clear as it could possibly be that there are in app purchases and what the costs are.

ETA and for a little balance since I sound like a darn fangirl
"According to these new guidelines, existing subscription services such as Netflix may continue to function without offering in-app purchases. Content providers are now also free to charge whatever price they wish. For example, they could offer in-app subscriptions with a premium to cover Apple's 30% cut for In-App Subscription payments."
http://www.macrumors.com/2011/06/09/apple-reverses-course-on-in-app-subscriptions/

thelawnet

The iPad is explicitly marketed to children, most obviously for use as an educational device in school. This is undeniable, and indeed schools do use it for this purpose.

If somebody stole my Ipad, I wouldn't be concerned about the lack of a passcode, because I don't store personal data on it. However the default insecure financial transaction mechanism is an issue for ALL customers.

These games with in-app purchases are extremely lucrative, because rather than earning £2 or £3, they can earn £hundreds from a single hooked customer. Apple don't want to lose this revenue stream, because they take a large cut of it. All the top-grossing ipad/iphone games are 'free' but then charge large amounts in-game. This is bad for the consumer, but obviously Apple don't care because it makes them £££. They should however take reasonable steps to avoid contracting with five-year-olds, since these purchases are void at law anyway.

Fire_Fox

thelawnet wrote: »

The iPad is explicitly marketed to children, most obviously for use as an educational device in school. This is undeniable, and indeed schools do use it for this purpose.

If somebody stole my Ipad, I wouldn't be concerned about the lack of a passcode, because I don't store personal data on it. However the default insecure financial transaction mechanism is an issue for ALL customers.

You keep saying this but it's a million miles from undeniable to me. For a start you are completely twisting my words to suit your argument I said "The iPad and iPhone are devices designed for and marketed to adults". Not apps, the tablet and smartphone themselves which is the part Apple are responsible for.

Again that is being offered or purchased for the use of children not marketed to children, if there is marketing it is presumably at those in local authorities who make purchasing decisions: kids can't 'pester power' schools AFAIK. Maybe I am not watching the right TV channels where there are those cringey toy ads for youngsters, i've only ever seen fairly sedate mature adverts. By contrast I have seen Apple advertising aimed at younger people for iPods, brightly coloured and full of movement.

Why don't we campaign for all PCs, tablets and smartphones to come with full 'parental controls' as standard? Just because Apple might make money? Yet Apple ARE being responsible by clearly listing the in app purchases in the App Store, and having the restrictions all in one place instead of hiding away the ones that make them the most money. Again ALL the restrictions default to 'adult'.

I would very much hope a school purchasing such gadgets would be as responsible as parents should be as make full use of the Restrictions menu. It's basic to control what a child has access to on any PC or mini computer. I am sure any parent would be outraged if their child was found to be watching p0rn or gambling or speaking to unsavoury types on social networks using a school computer or tablet.

Don't you? Most of us apparently do without knowing (see linky). I certainly don't clean up my handset's browser history and cookies very often as I do on my laptop.
http://www.mcafee.com/uk/resources/white-papers/foundstone/wp-top-10-iphone-security-tips.pdf
Wouldn't the financial transaction mechanism be, in part, secured by the passcode giving us longer to block or wipe the handset?

thelawnet

But again, you are simply wrong. The ipad and iphone are not designed for and marketed only to adults. They are designed for and marketed to many different groups of consumers, including, specifically, children.

The interface of an ipad and iphone is designed to be usable by young children, who could not use a traditional computer. Apple know this, they are the world's largest company and spend fortunes on usability testing, including children.

In any case the ipod, which you say is marketed to children, is just an iphone with no cellular communications. It runs the same OS, the same My Little Pony games.

You are being disingenuous. My Microsoft computer does not demand my credit card details to be functional. Apple does. Ipads and iphones are not close to fully functional without a credit card. This is done because Apple wants people to spend as much money as possible on their content and that is their priority.

Microsoft content themselves with a one-time payment - you buy Office, you buy Windows, and that's it - you can use that forever. This isn't enough for Apple. Whereas Microsoft have been strengthening their security and protection of your personal data, Apple's business model depends on consumers signing over access to their bank account/credit card to Apple, and they don't even ship this secure by default.

No reasonable person would have any reason to believe that having purchased 'Dora The Explorer's Adventure' for £1.99, and having been prompted for the password, that their child could then switch to 'My Little Pony' and buy a £69.99 pack of coins 10 minutes later, without knowing or entering the password. (Usually childless troglodytes will say something like 'But why weren't you supervising your child', as if every parent should have to stand over and watch constantly without interruption, while their child plays on their Game Boy, ipad or other device.)

The fact is that Apple established a new paradigm, one that, had it come from Microsoft, would have been deemed insecure and monopolistic, and that is that in order to make use of your computer, you must give its maker access to your bank account.

This should come with default restrictions, and analogies about pornography or gambling are merely obfuscating what is a very simple issue of you defending the indefensible in respect of Apple.