Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Kate Ng

Four in five apps for children use ‘manipulative design’ to pressure them to keep playing and spend money

Getty/iStock

Most mobile phone apps made for children use “manipulative design tricks” to “lure” children into playing them for longer periods of time or to make more purchases, a study has found.

Four out of five children’s game apps include such design features, known as “dark patterns”, in order to “serve the interests of technology companies over the interests of children”.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.