parental controlsmobilesafety

Parental Controls and the Mobile Money Trap: Protecting Kids From Aggressive In-Game Sales

oonlinegaming

2026-02-02

9 min read

Practical steps for parents to block in-app purchases, disable predatory notifications, and protect kids from aggressive monetization in 2026.

Stop the bleeding: Protect kids from aggressive mobile monetization now

If your kid opened a pack, clicked a limited-time offer, or asked for your card after a gaming session — you know the panic. Mobile titles today are often optimized to convert play into purchases. With regulators like Italy’s AGCM investigating major publishers for "misleading and aggressive" in‑game sales (including Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty: Mobile in early 2026), parents are right to ask: what do I change first to stop accidental or manipulative spending, and how do I protect my child from dark-pattern monetization?

Why 2026 is a turning point for parental controls and mobile safety

Late 2025 and early 2026 brought renewed scrutiny on mobile monetization. Regulators are focused on deceptive UI, push notifications that encourage spending, opaque virtual-currency bundles, and default parental settings that are too permissive. That means developers will face pressure to add clearer purchase disclosures and better family controls — but that’s slow. In the meantime, you’re the frontline defense.

“These practices ... may influence players as consumers — including minors — leading them to spend significant amounts, sometimes exceeding what is necessary to progress.” — AGCM press release, Jan 2026

What parents are actually fighting

FOMO mechanics: timers and limited offers that push impulse buys.
Virtual-currency bundles: obscure real-world cost and encourage overspend.
Randomized rewards (loot boxes): gambling-like triggers and repeat purchases.
Persistent purchase prompts: store links, popups, and push notifications.
Default permissive settings: account settings that allow purchases without confirmation.

Quick wins: immediate device settings to stop in-app purchases

Do these four things tonight and you’ll block most accidental or impulsive purchases.

Require authentication for every purchase.
Remove stored payment methods from the child’s account.
Turn off in-app purchases / block specific apps.
Disable push notifications from high‑pressure games.

iOS (iPhone & iPad) — step‑by‑step

Use Family Sharing and set the child’s account up as a child account.
Enable Ask to Buy (Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing > Ask to Buy) so purchases require parental approval.
Open Settings > Screen Time > [child]. Under Content & Privacy Restrictions, turn on restrictions and set iTunes & App Store Purchases to Disallow in‑app purchases.
Under Screen Time, set Downtime and App Limits for gaming apps to curb long sessions that drive impulsive buys.
Remove payment methods from the child’s Apple ID: Settings > [your name] > Payment & Shipping — keep only a parent’s card on the family organizer, or use gift cards only.
Control notifications: Settings > Notifications > choose the game > set to Off. This blocks outside‑game spending nudges.

Android (Google Play & Family Link) — step‑by‑step

Install and configure Google Family Link (parent device + child device).
In Family Link, set the child’s account so purchases require parental approval. In Google Play, enable Require authentication for purchases (Settings > Authentication > For all purchases through Google Play on this device).
Remove or don’t store payment methods on the child’s account. Use Google Play gift cards or a parent-approved balance for occasional purchases.
Use App & Game Limits (Digital Wellbeing or Family Link) to cap daily play time and reduce pressure to spend after long sessions.
Turn off notifications per-app (Settings > Apps & notifications > [game] > Notifications > Off).

In‑game settings every parent should check

Games often have their own purchase controls. Look in Settings > Account / Store / Parental Controls. If the game offers a purchase PIN or parental PIN, enable it. If you don’t see one, search the game’s support pages — many have hidden purchase confirmations or family modes.

Enable any available purchase PIN or password confirmation.
Disable email or push receipts that advertise offers.
Log out of platforms that store payment methods (e.g., remove saved cards from the in‑game store).
Disable external links to the store or web-based offers when possible.

Account and payment strategies that actually work

Removing the payment method is the most reliable step. But you can also shape spending behavior proactively.

Prefer gift cards and pre‑paid balances

Buy Google Play or Apple Store gift cards, or add a set balance. Let your child spend only what’s on the card. This caps losses and avoids charge disputes.

Use virtual cards with spend limits

Several banks and fintech apps let you create single‑use or capped virtual cards for app stores. Load small amounts and expire the card after purchase.

Remove stored payment methods and use parental approvals

If the child’s device prompts for a parent to approve, don’t store your primary card on that device. Keep payment methods on the family organizer or an account you control.

Home network & device-level blocks

If you want deeper control across devices, use network and router-level tools.

Router, DNS, and third‑party parental devices

Use solutions like Circle by Disney, OpenDNS FamilyShield, or router parental controls to block or schedule access to specific app stores or in‑game servers.
At the router level you can block updates or block IP ranges used by specific games (advanced, and may break gameplay).

Device management platforms

For families with many devices, consider managed device platforms used in schools or enterprise MDM tools to enforce app lists, block installs, and disable in‑app purchases altogether.

How manipulative monetization looks — and how to teach kids to spot it

Education is as important as technical blocks. Explain how games try to get players to spend, and give concrete examples.

Common dark patterns to point out

Countdown timers: “Buy now or you’ll lose this deal” — stresses impulse purchases.
Bundled currency: selling gems or coins in awkward increments so kids feel compelled to buy more than they need.
Progress gates: pay to skip long grind or instantly power up — turns progress into purchases.
Notifications outside play: push messages that arrive at odd hours to trigger FOMO.

Use real examples from titles under scrutiny like Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty: Mobile — explain that limited offers and expensive currency bundles are marketing, not necessary game mechanics.

What to do if your child has already spent money

Act fast and follow these steps:

Document the purchase (screenshots, transaction IDs, timestamps).
Contact Apple/Google support for in‑app purchase refunds (both have family purchase review processes). Be clear the purchase was accidental or unauthorized.
Contact the game’s support (submit a ticket and request a refund; include evidence and mention the child’s age if relevant).
If charges went through your credit card, contact your bank to dispute unauthorized charges; many banks will assist for purchases by minors.
Report manipulative or misleading practices to consumer protection agencies (AGCM in Italy, FTC in the U.S., local consumer agencies elsewhere).

Advanced 2026 strategies: leverage new tools and regulatory momentum

Regulatory pressure in early 2026 means changes are coming: clearer price disclosures, stricter default parental settings, and stronger controls inside games. Here’s how to be proactive.

Watch for OS and store updates

Apple and Google are under pressure to make purchasing flows clearer and add forced authentication defaults for child accounts. Keep devices updated, and re-check parental settings after major OS updates.

Use AI-driven monitoring tools cautiously

New family‑safety AI can flag possible manipulative push notifications or high-frequency spending patterns. If you try these, ensure data privacy and choose reputable vendors. (For background on modern AI tooling and automation patterns, see creative automation and AI systems overviews.)

Report and escalate — consumer agencies will listen in 2026

If you can demonstrate aggressive design patterns targeting minors (repeated push notifications advertising purchases, obfuscated pricing, or purchasable progression gates), file complaints with national consumer watchdogs. Regulators like the AGCM are actively investigating major publishers — public complaints add weight. For a tactical guide to reporting and marketplace fraud, see our marketplace safety & fraud playbook.

Sample family rules and scripts — what to say and enforce

Consistency matters. Use a simple set of rules kids can memorize.

Rule 1: No purchases without permission. Ever.
Rule 2: Use only gift cards or parent-approved funds.
Rule 3: If a game uses a countdown or makes you feel rushed, stop and ask.

Short script for kids

“If a button asks for money, don’t tap it. Come get me and we’ll decide together.”

Short script for parents

“We’ll only buy things with a family budget. We’ll track spending together and I’ll help you learn how to make decisions in the game.”

Troubleshooting common parental control problems

If a setting doesn’t work, try these quick fixes:

Ensure the child account is actually a child account (Family Sharing / Family Link). Adult accounts bypass many restrictions.
Check for multiple accounts — kids can create secondary accounts linked to different payment methods.
Verify stored payment methods are removed from the app and from the device-level wallet (Apple Pay/Google Pay).
After updates, re-check all permissions — some updates reset parental or notification settings.

Checklist: 15-point family safety audit (do this now)

Set up Family Sharing / Family Link and mark child accounts correctly.
Enable Ask to Buy / require parental approval for purchases.
Remove stored payment cards from child accounts.
Use gift cards or pre‑paid balances for controlled spending.
Turn off in‑app purchases in OS-level controls if available.
Set daily and session time limits for games.
Disable notifications for monetized games.
Enable in‑game purchase PINs if offered.
Use router or DNS filters to schedule or block access to stores.
Monitor receipts and weekly spending with your child.
Teach kids to recognize countdowns and FOMO tactics (see classroom microcourse approaches).
Keep device OS and store apps updated for the latest protections.
Document and request refunds for accidental charges immediately (follow an incident checklist like this incident response playbook).
Report aggressive or misleading practices to consumer agencies (marketplace safety & fraud guidance).
Revisit rules monthly and update as games and OSs change.

Final takeaways — protect your family and shape the industry

Games like Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty: Mobile being investigated by the AGCM in 2026 shows the problem is real and systemic. But regulatory pressure is only part of the solution. Parents have powerful levers today: device parental controls, payment strategies, network tools, and the most important tool — conversations with kids.

Start by locking down purchases and notifications tonight. Then implement a household spending plan and teach your child to spot manipulative design. When families act together and report abusive practices, the industry follows.

Take action now

Run the 15‑point audit above. If you find a game repeatedly pushing purchases or you can’t block charges, document it and file a complaint with your local consumer authority — and join the conversation on our community forums to share tactics and successes.

Want a printable one‑page family safety checklist and sample refund template? Sign up for our family guide newsletter and get tools designed for busy parents protecting gamers in 2026.

onlinegaming

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Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.