5 min read
How to Keep Kids Safe in Gaming and App Stores
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Kids' games and apps are great, but it’s terrifying how fast a child can spend real money or share private info. A few kids online safety tips and quick settings adjustments can help prevent these risks.
Lesson Notes:
- Games and apps may encourage children to spend real money through virtual currency, upgrades, and subscriptions.
- Parental controls can restrict purchases, content, communication, and play time.
- Children should never share passwords, verification codes, or personal information with other players.
- Set payment methods that require a password, PIN, or adult approval for each purchase.
- Families should discuss scams, advertisements, and online interactions before problems occur.
- Unexpected charges or compromised account information should be addressed promptly.
LESSON CONTENTS
Understand the financial and privacy risks
In-game currencies like gems, coins, and points make it incredibly easy for kids to lose track of spending because tapping a screen doesn't feel like handing over real cash. The same goes for subscriptions and ads that prompt repeated purchases or unlocks. Even if a game claims to be "ad-free," the FTC warns that it can still pop up with sneaky, real-money microtransactions, putting the risk plainly: "Each click is a payment" in some experiences (FTC, 2025) [1].
Before your kid downloads a new game, take a quick look at its ratings, reviews, ads, and purchase settings. That’s a simple in-app purchase safety step that also opens the door to reminding them that virtual currency still represents real money.
Privacy is another big hurdle. Public usernames, chats, and profiles can reveal clues about a child's name, school, location, or routine and may attract scammers. While federal laws like COPPA require apps to get parental consent before collecting data on kids under 13 (FTC, 2026) [2], the best defense is teaching your kids how to protect personal information online. Advise them to share as little identifying information as possible, including in usernames and casual chats.
Set up child accounts and parental controls
Good gaming safety for kids starts with the account setup, so create child profiles and choose age-appropriate content settings. Second, keep family devices secure before handing over a phone, tablet, console, or computer. To reduce risks, add controls that require adult approval for downloads, purchases, and subscriptions. And always keep the parental-control PIN private so children cannot change the settings themselves.
Then, review the settings for each device or platform because controls can differ. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) notes that parental controls on virtually every gaming device can block games by rating, limit or block spending, manage play time, and restrict online communication. What’s more, about 80% of parents report using parental controls on at least one gaming device (ESRB, n.d.) [3]. Settings and controls are a useful backup, but work best alongside clear family rules and regular conversations.
Protect payment methods and gaming accounts
For stronger in-app purchase safety, avoid leaving a card available for frictionless purchases. Instead, require a password, PIN, or adult approval every time. If it fits your budget, you can also use a gift card with a limited balance. These protections create a natural pause before spending.
Beyond payments, protect parent accounts, app stores, and gaming profiles with secure passwords. Use unique passwords for each account and turn on multi-factor authentication. Simple mobile banking safety tips help too. Thus, enable purchase and account alerts, and review activity regularly for unfamiliar transactions. Most importantly, never accept a verification prompt or login request you didn't initiate. If a linked card or account appears compromised, contact Wings West promptly.
Teach kids to recognize gaming and app scams
Kids online safety also depends on what they do when an adult isn’t beside them. Talk about fake giveaways, "free" virtual currency, suspicious links, account-trading schemes, and requests for login or verification details. Teach them about online scams and how to recognize phishing attempts, and explain that scammers use urgency, secrecy, or unrealistic rewards to push quick decisions.
For example, if your kid receives a message like, "Free 10,000 gems. Claim in five minutes," followed by a link, the safer response is to avoid clicking and stop the conversation. Tell them to skip the link, stop replying, and find you so you can double-check the game's actual official store together. Also, warn kids about scams online that ask them to move chats elsewhere. Make a family rule that you never share passwords, personal details, or verification codes, even with online friends.
Create a family gaming and spending plan
With a short family plan, you can make gaming safety for kids a routine. Sit down together and agree on approved games, spending limits, and purchase permissions. Also, set guidelines for what your kids should do when a message, player, or purchase request feels uncomfortable. Write the rules in plain language and revisit them after a new game, device, or payment method is added. You can also use this opportunity to teach kids healthy money habits by connecting virtual spending to a real budget.
Review controls together periodically as your kids gain independence. Ask what they are playing and who they communicate with. Also, inquire whether anything online has felt confusing or pressured. Lastly, keep monitoring account alerts, and contact Wings West promptly if a linked card or account is compromised. For extra family financial-safety guidance, explore more online-safety resources.
References
- Federal Trade Commission. (2025, April 10). What to know about kids and video games, ads, and unexpected payments. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/04/what-know-about-kids-video-games-ads-unexpected-payments
- Federal Trade Commission. (2026, May 13). Protecting your child’s privacy online. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/protecting-your-childs-privacy-online
- Entertainment Software Rating Board. (n.d.). Child accounts and parental controls. https://www.esrb.org/tools-for-parents/family-gaming-guide/setting-up-a-child-account-and-using-parental-controls/
FAQs
Require adult approval, a password, or PIN for purchases.
Save it only if each purchase requires adult approval.
Passwords, codes, financial details, addresses, school information, or phone numbers.
They allow you to restrict content, spending, play time, and online communication.
Close it and change exposed passwords. Then check your account activity for suspicious transactions.
Yes. Contact the provider and Wings West promptly.
*PLEASE NOTE: This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Please consult your own financial advisor, accountant or other financial professional to learn more about what strategies are appropriate for your situation.
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