Online gaming has become a popular all-day leisure activity, with many players willing to spend money to boost their character and improve their gaming experience. However, children and adolescents, who are still developing their mental and self-control skills, can quickly become addicted to these games, leading to “topping up” money endlessly.
The Consumer Council recently received a complaint from a parent whose 13-year-old son had spent HK$90,000 (US$11,465) in 20 days and was seeking a refund.
According to the Consumer Council, Ms. Leung, the complainant, did not take the necessary steps to safeguard her 13-year-old son’s smart device by installing a parental control app. As a result, she discovered that her son had spent nearly HK$90,000 within just 20 days on virtual props for several mobile phone games….