Smart phone games are often unsuitable for children after testing them, the German Commodity Testing Authority said.
German experts explained that this is due to several things, including data protection, where many applications collect a lot of data or monitor the user with access to chats and voice messages.
Privacy policy statements are not clear to children, and sometimes apps transmit usage data even when the user turns off tracking.
Another reason is the costs that such games can cause through so-called In-App Purchases, such as digital accessories such as costumes purchased for game characters, which can be a cost trap for a child.
In these cases, German experts recommend blocking in-app purchases by setting an unknown child password at Google Play. For Apple devices, purchases are disabled via the settings in the Screen Time function.
Experts from the German institute noted that some games may display content that is not suitable for children, such as sexual or violent scenes. It is advisable to allow the child to play only offline, if the application allows this.
In general, settings should be checked regularly, the child may change them. Parents should also play with the child from time to time to get an idea of the game.