As a parent, you probably worry about what your child is doing online. Children today grow up using the internet from a very young age, and that isn’t going to change. But instead of growing up fearing the internet, children must be educated digital citizens who can advocate for their own interests. You can empower and educate them to ensure that they stay safe online while benefiting from the knowledge and community that can be found online.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at apps for kids and the ways they work. We’ll delve into the tricks businesses use to take advantage of children and how you can recognize them. We’ll also help you find ways to engage with your children about online safety.
Who decides if apps for kids are age appropriate?
Apps are given age ratings according to different criteria, making it hard to know if an app is suitable for your child. An app’s age rating is dictated by a combination of the following criteria:
- The app developer’s own rating
- The rating given by an app store (for example, the Google Play Store or Apple App Store)
- For games, ratings are given based on game content by organizations such as Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) and Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
These ratings can be helpful, but they won’t necessarily indicate whether an app is suitable for your child. It’s best for you to review apps yourself and with other parents you know.
Where can you find out more about app regulations?
Many governments and organizations recognize the importance of building a child-friendly internet.
In 2020, The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)(new window) released a code of practice for online services aimed at empowering children and adults. Businesses offering “information society services likely to be accessed by children” in the UK are now expected to conform to 15 principles of age-appropriate design(new window). The principles govern data collection and use, transparency, default settings, and parental controls.
Many nonprofits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also provide resources for parents looking to educate themselves about children’s online safety. UNICEF(new window) and Save the Children International(new window) both offer content hubs with plenty of resources. If you find getting to grips with all of the apps for kids on the market intimidating, these hubs can be a great place to start.
What are the effects of bad design in apps for kids?
UX, or user experience, is the process used to create new digital products and experiences. It dictates how a website or app looks, how it works, what data it collects, and what actions it encourages users to take.
When an app or website uses design to encourage someone to take an action that isn’t in their best interest, this is called a dark pattern. UX designer Harry Brignull coined the term in 2008 and has been documenting them(new window) ever since. Think of the red circular icon on a notification button that makes staying on a social media app enticing or paying a small fee to advance quickly in an online game. These design tactics are manipulative, unethical, and benefit businesses at the expense of their users.
For example, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) forced Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, to pay $520 million in fines and refunds(new window) because of its use of dark patterns. The FTC found that Fortnite did not adequately protect children’s privacy on the platform and tricked users into making purchases. Companies often use dark patterns in children’s platforms because they are less likely to recognize manipulation attempts.
There are many manipulative tricks used by companies to encourage children to spend time or money, or share personal data. A few of the most common dark design patterns include:
Confirmshaming
When a user declines an option, the platform may try to emotionally manipulate them into changing their mind. Here’s an example of how that works.
A child chooses to log out of a session of an online game. When they’re asked to confirm that they want to leave, they’re given two option:
Are you sure? You’re only five points away from the next level
- Yes, I give up…
- No, I want to win!
This emotionally manipulative persuasion implies that the child is close to a reward and that choosing to take a break is the equivalent of “giving up”. Since players are always working towards a reward, “confirmshaming” effectively encourages children to never log off, even if they know they’ve spent too much time online or too much real money.
Many parents try to limit screen time to encourage a healthy relationship with technology and devices. Confirmshaming can make this more difficult to enforce.
Loot boxes
Loot boxes are purchasable items that mostly appear in online games such as Fortnite. They contain random items such as skins for the player’s character or unique weapons, emotes, and items. Loot boxes may cost in-game currency or real money, or a child might have to view an ad to get access.
Unlike a standard purchase of a skin or a weapon, a loot box is tempting to children because the element of chance is exciting. They could win a rare item, or one that’s ‘worth’ a lot more than the cost of the box itself. This is a manipulative tactic by gaming companies to encourage children to make purchases.
The European parliament investigated the effects of loot boxes on young people(new window) and found that they can serve as a “‘gateway’ from gaming to gambling.” However, only three EU countries currently recognize loot boxes as a form of gambling. There have been movements in the UK and the US respectively to regulate the sale of loot boxes, but they remain legal to market and sell to children.
Once a credit card or PayPal account has been linked to a child’s gaming account, they might be tempted to make purchases they know they shouldn’t. Gaming companies are aware of this and seek to exploit it. We recommend not linking any payment details to gaming accounts to counteract this.
Educate yourself about the apps your children use
Device usage and platform usage across different generations vary. To help yourself understand the digital environment that children are living in today, let’s examine some key statistics from the Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report(new window), a report published by The UK’s Office of Communications (Ofcom) in 2024:
- 96% of children aged 3–17 in the UK went online in 2023.
- By the age of 11, nine in ten children own their own mobile phone.
- 90% of parents of children aged 3–17 report that their child games using at least a mobile phone or a tablet
- Younger children commonly use tablets to go online, while older children are more likely to use mobile phones. Laptop use among children is falling.
- YouTube is the most-used app for kids in the study, with more than eight in ten 3–17-year-olds using it.
Looking at these statistics, you might not be as familiar with the apps or devices that your children use as they are. But if you want to feel comfortable with them, you need to get to grips with how they work, especially their privacy settings.
We recommend sitting with your children to review new apps and platforms together. You can explore the settings and how the game or app works together, and show your child that you’re interested in supporting them using the internet safely. Either ask them to show you how it works or download something new and explore it together. Children want autonomy and to be trusted, and engaging directly with their interests is a great way to make them feel empowered.
Pay special attention to the privacy settings in your children’s apps: Any settings about data collection, advertising, and communications are great places to start when it comes to educating your kids about their privacy. Dark patterns may tempt your kids to keep playing,
If you’re concerned about a particular app for kids, we recommend consulting resources by child behavior experts such as Internet Matters(new window), Childnet(new window), the NS(new window)P(new window)CC(new window), or UNICEF(new window). The more research you do and the more you inform yourself, the easier it’ll be to explain internet safety and recognize dark design patterns to your children.
Creating a child-friendly internet is part of building a more private internet. Informed children go on to be informed adults, fundamentally shaping the way we will build the internet in the future. Children deserve a safe environment to educate themselves and build community safely, and with your help as an informed parent, they can have it. At Proton, we aim to empower those of all ages to protect themselves online. That’s why we provide open source tools for anyone to use that don’t rely on collecting your data or invading your privacy.
