One-tap purchases and dark patterns

What you're actually buying

Anything the game sells, with the friction removed. The risk is not the item but how easy it is to buy without noticing.

How it works

Apple's 15 October 2009 policy change let free apps ship in-app purchases and removed the last friction: no re-entering card details, just a one-tap prompt against a card Apple already held. Facebook social games had already shown that players would buy virtual goods against a card on file. When children make purchases that parents never approved, the result is refunds and regulators. When confirmation screens are designed to nudge or hide choices, they are called dark patterns.

When it's fine

When the device asks for a password or approval for every purchase and the price is shown clearly in real money.

Where it came from

On 15 October 2009 Apple's App Store guidelines update allowed free apps to offer In-App Purchase. On 15 January 2014 the FTC announced Apple would refund at least $32.5 million to parents billed for children's unauthorised in-app purchases. On 19 December 2022 the FTC announced Epic Games would pay $520 million over Fortnite, including $245 million in refunds over alleged dark patterns.

Rules and regulation

On 15 January 2014 the FTC announced that Apple would refund at least $32.5 million to parents billed for their children's unauthorised in-app purchases.

On 19 December 2022 the FTC announced that Epic Games would pay $520 million over Fortnite, of which $245 million was refunds over alleged dark patterns. This was a settlement, not an admission; the separate $275 million penalty related to under-13s' data (see 'Aimed at children').

Historical prices and revenues are in US dollars at the time unless marked A$.