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Apple has gotten better at these things, now you can set up a kid's device to forward all requests to purchase apps or IAPs to the parent's device which has to

Apple has gotten better at these things, now you can set up a kid's device to forward all requests to purchase apps or IAPs to the parent's device which has to approve it. I also don't remember it being very hard to lock down purchasing using parental controls in older versions of iOS, if you don't mind me asking which version of iOS was the kid running?

BLKNSLVR 7y ago
iOS version, I'm not sure precisely, maybe two versions back from whatever is current. The device was / is setup using my account since I'm not ready to let them have their own account - whether it's a child account or otherwise. I don't use iDevices though, so there's no security compromise between what I want to be able to with the account and what restrictions I want on the kids. I had specified a password was required for any purchase, and to my knowledge this was still the case when the incident occurred. The additional locking down was done via the (relatively new at the time) Screen Time restrictions, plus requiring a password for ANY app installs (free or paid). My assumption (and that's all it is) is that because the trial was free, it was allowed without a password, where the "gotcha" is the auto-pay upon trial expiry. I also assume that this subscription process was started due to an in-game advertisement dark pattern that lead towards unknowningly signing-up. (I will accept without argument some amount of blame on the "bad parent deserved it for not observing their kids' device activity" spectrum. Also if there are additional restrictions on children's accounts - but I have my own squeamishness about setting up account details for a minor)
- CDSlice 7y ago
  I don't think this reflects badly on you at all, until very recently it was really hard to have an account with restrictions somewhere in the middle of 100% free and 100% locked down. Even now it can be pretty confusing. I personally would put the blame on the app devs for the dark patterns and Apple for not vetting it properly
- nyuszika7h 7y ago
  I don't know about earlier versions, but iOS 12 and newer definitely require a password (or Touch ID / Face ID) for starting a free trial subscription, and even for downloading a free app unless you turn that off.

BLKNSLVR 7y ago

iOS version, I'm not sure precisely, maybe two versions back from whatever is current. The device was / is setup using my account since I'm not ready to let them have their own account - whether it's a child account or otherwise. I don't use iDevices though, so there's no security compromise between what I want to be able to with the account and what restrictions I want on the kids. I had specified a password was required for any purchase, and to my knowledge this was still the case when the incident occurred. The additional locking down was done via the (relatively new at the time) Screen Time restrictions, plus requiring a password for ANY app installs (free or paid). My assumption (and that's all it is) is that because the trial was free, it was allowed without a password, where the "gotcha" is the auto-pay upon trial expiry. I also assume that this subscription process was started due to an in-game advertisement dark pattern that lead towards unknowningly signing-up. (I will accept without argument some amount of blame on the "bad parent deserved it for not observing their kids' device activity" spectrum. Also if there are additional restrictions on children's accounts - but I have my own squeamishness about setting up account details for a minor)

CDSlice 7y ago
I don't think this reflects badly on you at all, until very recently it was really hard to have an account with restrictions somewhere in the middle of 100% free and 100% locked down. Even now it can be pretty confusing. I personally would put the blame on the app devs for the dark patterns and Apple for not vetting it properly
nyuszika7h 7y ago
I don't know about earlier versions, but iOS 12 and newer definitely require a password (or Touch ID / Face ID) for starting a free trial subscription, and even for downloading a free app unless you turn that off.