Online Safety: What Parents and Carers Need to Know about Microtransactions (8.12.23)
Welcome to our weekly online safety bulletin! Each week of the school term, we will provide useful tips, facts and guides on how to stay safe online.
This week's theme is: Microtransactions
Microtransactions figure in the business model of many game and app developers, allowing them to bring in ongoing revenue as users continue to pay for extra features and content; even software that’s initially free to download can be monetised in this way. It’s a system which has featured in many of younger gamers’ perennial favourite franchises, from Fortnite to FIFA.
As well as encouraging regular spending, however, microtransactions – especially the increasingly common use of loot boxes – have also been scrutinised for what many argue is a resemblance to gambling, with the potential to foster addictive behaviours. This guide tells parents and carers what they need to know about microtransactions.
Useful links:
Internet Matters - This website has lots of practical advice and information, including detailed guides on how to set up parental controls on a range of devices.
Childnet - Help, advice and resources for parents and carers
Parent Zone - Digital advice, activities and ideas for parents and families
NSPCC - Online Safety advice, guides and news.
Visit our Online Safety page for more information.
Missed an update? Head over to our Online Safety Tip of the Week archive.
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