FTC Eyes Apple In-App Purchases By Children

“We fully share your concern that consumers, particularly children, are unlikely to understand the ramifications of these types of purchases,” Leibowitz wrote in a letter to Markey obtained by the Washington Post. “Let me assure you we will look closely at the current industry practice with respect to the marketing and delivery of these types of applications.”

While much of the technology world has been focused on Apple’s in-app purchase rules and how they affect publishers and content owners who offer subscriptions, the company has also had to deal with questions about protections against inadvertent in-app purchases by children. Apple allows users to buy apps or virtual goods with one password key-in, which allows for unlimited successive purchases for 15 minutes. A few reports have bubbled up of children unknowingly using this loophole to charge hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars in purchases.

Proposal Would Punish PARENTS of 'Sexting' Teens

A measure which would allow a judge to punish the parents of teenagers who engage in the risky practice known as 'sexting,' was introduced today in the Texas Legislature, and immediately received the support of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, 1200 WOAI news reports.

The measure, introduced by State Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin), would make sexting a Class C misdemeanor requiring a court appearance for the teenaged violator, and would allow a judge to 'sentence' his or her parent to participate in an education program on sexting's long-term harmful consequences.

'Sexting' is the use of a e-mail or a texting service to transmit an explicit photograph of themselves or of another teen.

"This bill ensures that prosecutors, and, frankly, parents, will have a new, appropriate tool to address this issue," Watson said.  "It helps Texas laws keep up with technology and our teenagers."

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy report in 2008 estimated that 22 percent of teen girls said they have electronically sent or posted online nude or semi-nude images of themselves.

"Sexting message senders have no control over their message's ultimate destination," Abbott said.  "Embarrassing or sexually explicit messages can be forwarded to other students and later spread quickly through a school or anywhere in the world."

Currently, teens engaged in 'sexting' can be charged with possessing or trafficking in child pornography.  That offense carries the potential of decades of prison time, plus the requirement that the teen register for the rest of his or her life as a sex offense pervert.

"This bill's legal provisions ensure that minors are punished for their improper behavior, but do not face life altering criminal charges," Watson said.

The law would also allow teens who successfully adhere to the court's requirements, which includes completing an ‘education program’ about the consequences of sexting, to petition to have the misdemeanor offense expunged from their records.

Girls Benefit from Video Game Co-Play

Video games sometimes get roughed up by parents, teachers, and academics as having a negative impact on kids. However, a study conducted by researchers at Brigham Young University concluded that playing video games is good for girls … if they play with a parent.

In an article appearing today in the Journal of Adolescent Health, researchers at the School of Family Life interviewed 287 families with a child between 11 and 16 years old. They compared the gender of the kids and which video games were played to a number of measures, such as behavior, family connection, and mental well-being.

Boys in the study most often played Call of Duty, Wii Sports and Halo. The most popular games for girls were Mario Kart, Mario Brothers, Wii Sports, Rock Band and Guitar Hero. The significant finding came with the girls who played age-appropriate games with a parent. For them, the positive indicators—better behavior, feeling more connected to their families, and stronger mental health—got a 20 percent bump in the outcomes. Boys didn’t see that effect, nor did girls who played more mature games.

According to Sarah Coyne, the lead author in the video game study, girls didn’t play as often but the time spent co-playing with a parent is the same as boys. The authors also noted that, when asked, moms didn’t grab a game controller very often. That could mean that the times mom does play carries more weight.

“Any face-to-face time you have with your child can be a positive thing,” advised co-author Laura Padilla-Walker, “especially if the activity is something the child is interested in.”