It is a recurring theme from time to time: in-app purchases, especially in games. When you read a headline like the one in this article, you immediately think that something is not working as it should. A 7-year-old boy in the UK has spent a not inconsiderable € 5.500 on in-game purchases Jurassic World for iPad without the father, obviously, noticing it until his checking account was at zero. Situations like this raise the debate of whether parents are too reckless leaving these devices to our children, or whether Apple (and the rest of the companies) should do something about it so that purchases are not so easy to make.
It is true that Apple makes the necessary tools available to users so that this does not happen. On the one hand, the child had to know the password of his father's account to be able to make those purchases, because an amount like that is not spent in an instant, but in several hours (even days) buying without stopping. In addition, iOS users can set restrictions on the system so that integrated purchases are disabled and no one can access them without knowing that new lock key. But it is also true that the game is rated as suitable for players from 4 years. Should Apple allow these types of purchases in games for minors? Shouldn't at least a less intrusive and attractive way to promote this type of shopping be established? Because anyone who has played this game will have realized that the difficult thing is not to buy.
On the other hand, we cannot forget that this father has given his 7-year-old son the shopping code. If you had taken the credit card to buy in online stores, would we also require those stores to return the money? Rather, we would think that the father was the only culprit and would have to pay the consequences. It is easier to make purchases on the iPad than on a website with a credit card, but still we must never forget that our iPhone or iPad has very sensitive information that in the wrong hands can cause problems. By the way, if someone after reading this wants to know how to restrict this type of purchases, in this link you have the tutorial on how to do it. The end of the story has been that Apple has agreed to pay you back, although it will take about ten days. Not happy with the solution, the father even complains that he will not be able to buy gifts for his children this Christmas. Seeing is believing.
