Expensive TikTok coins: 13-year-old costs mother 2,400 euros!

Expensive TikTok coins: 13-year-old costs mother 2,400 euros!

In a worrying incident in Carinthia, a 13-year-old boy purchased virtual currency worth around 2,400 euros via the TikTok app. The inexplicable debits were discovered by his mother, who then contacted the consumer protection department of the Carinthian Chamber of Labor for help. This situation raises important questions about the protection of minors in the digital world.

Consumer protection is increasingly receiving inquiries from parents reporting unintentional in-app purchases made by their children. The lawyer Sabina Lerchbaumer made it clear that in-app purchases by minors without the consent of their legal guardians are not legally valid. The boy's mother emphasized that there was no consent for the purchases. After several weeks of written negotiations, the consumer advocates demanded a refund from TikTok, which was ultimately successful and the entire amount was transferred back to the family.

The risks of in-app purchases

In-app purchases are a widespread phenomenon in the digital world. With many free games offered as free-to-play titles, players often experience wait times or face penalties for not paying for additional content. These purchases can take place in both browser games and mobile apps. Purchase buttons or pop-ups allow users to purchase paid content during the game, which can quickly add up to large sums if purchases are not particularly economical.

Children and young people are particularly affected by this problem, as the use of virtual currencies often clouds awareness of real expenses. In-app purchases are typically processed via user accounts in app stores, whereby credit card or account information is often stored, which enables quick processing of purchase transactions.

Tips for protecting yourself from cost traps

In order to avoid unwanted costs caused by in-app purchases, the consumer advice center recommends various measures. These include:

• Vor dem Spielen überprüfen, ob In-Game-Käufe erforderlich sind.
• Achtung auf Berechtigungen und Datenanforderungen des Anbieters vor dem Download.
• Prepaid-Gutscheine verwenden und Zahlungsarten nicht speichern.
• Kaufvorgänge durch Passwort oder Biometrie schützen.
• Teure Sonderrufnummern oder SMS durch den Mobilfunkanbieter sperren lassen.
• Drittanbietersperre einrichten, um ungewollte Käufe über die Handyrechnung zu verhindern.
• In-Game-Käufe bei Computer- oder Konsolenspielen durch Passwörter sichern oder Gastprofile für Kinder anlegen.

Given the growing number of inquiries about in-app purchases, this incident underscores the urgency to educate parents and children about the risks and take appropriate protective measures. The digital world has its price – and it is not always immediately apparent.