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Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

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Re: Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

#31

Post by ModernMech »

basisword wrote: post #8

What does a kid need a special debit card for? When they’re old enough to get a job they can just get a regular bank account.

It's the next stage of capitalist indoctrination. As a society, we aim to turn our children into consumers as quickly as possible.

We advertise sugary, fatty, fast food to them on the TV shows they watch. We get them addicted early to the dopamine hit of a the next big toy, an obsession which carries through to high tech gadgets and cars in adulthood. My local grocery store even has a tiny child-sized shopping cart with a flag on it that says "Future Customer in Training", so kids can mimic their parents as they consume.

In that context, debit cards for kids are a logical next-step. As soon as they hit 18 and can earn an income, now companies will have a nice fat history of buying habits and consumer behavior for these kids that makes them easily targetable.

Re: Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

#32

Post by monkeybutton »

beshrkayali wrote: post #25

It's more shocking to me that parents are giving their kids cards and making them use apps for allowance.

Is it that shocking? I can count the number of times I used cash in the last 2 years on one hand thanks to covid. Everywhere that was a hold-out was forced adopt the "tap" cards. By the time I have kids and they grow up enough to start having an allowance will be 10 years from now and I don't think we'll be using cash more than now. The people making these apps obviously see that trend too.

Re: Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

#33

Post by BoxOfRain »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #27
swiley wrote: post #3

If I had a kid they would not be allowed to use Apps or have a Google account. Sure I'd give them a laptop, I would even probably give them unsupervised access to the web after they seemed ready, but Apps are no good even for most adults.

> they would not be allowed to use Apps or have a Google account On one level, I agree with this. On another, I remember the restrictions my parents were convinced they had on me to which trivial workarounds existed.

I learned about MAC filtering and how to get around it with MAC spoofing at an early age this way!

Re: Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

#34

Post by onemoresoop »

basisword wrote: post #24
watwut wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This assumes the parent is either with kid constantly or parent gave his card to kid. You cant imagine 9 years old to go to buy ice cream or toy?

Sure, you can give them cash. If the parents aren’t around (e.g. they’re with a babysitter)…they can wait until the parents are around to give them cash.

I think cash is good alternative. No data collection, no surprises, just learn to count the chance you receive back and you're good. The problem I have with cards is that money is less tangible and it is easier for kids to learn the value of money by handling coins and paper. But surely, I agree with others that this method of payment will become obsolete.

Re: Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

#35

Post by onemoresoop »

thatguy0900 wrote: post #6
swiley wrote: post #3

If I had a kid they would not be allowed to use Apps or have a Google account. Sure I'd give them a laptop, I would even probably give them unsupervised access to the web after they seemed ready, but Apps are no good even for most adults.

You're kid will be very upset when they are slowly excluded from all of their friend groups when noone wants to email or text just one member of the group. Sad reality of it.

Yeah but who will be more upset later on in life? Their self indulgent peers whose parents allow them to be primed by predatory system are likely to not end up very well. At least not all of them

Re: Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

#36

Post by basisword »

watwut wrote: post #30
basisword wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, you can give them cash. If the parents aren’t around (e.g. they’re with a babysitter)…they can wait until the parents are around to give them cash.

The whole point of pocket money is that it is theirs and you dont gatekeep every buy. And kids can go to store without babysitter.

1. Not “gatekeeping” their decision. They just might have to wait a few hours before they can carry it out.

2. I’m not sure of your point here. I meant if the parent wasn’t around to provide the cash the kid might have to wait until they are around. Not that they need someone to take them to the store (although this is highly dependent on where you live and the age of the kid).

Re: Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

#37

Post by nkrisc »

Filligree wrote: post #15
koolba wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Children get upset when they’re not allowed to get a tattoo or eat candy for dinner. Hell, if they’re not getting upset regularly than you’re probably doing something wrong.

There’s a bit of a difference between not getting candy, and not having any friends. You’re doing your kid no favours if you think that’s a plus.

If those kids are actually their friends, they’ll make it work.

Re: Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

#38

Post by pavlov »

This seems like a curious data set because it’s likely to be often very misleading about the adult person’s interests.

I spent all my money on computer games at age 12. At 19 I thought they were pointless and never bought one for the next fifteen years. The teenage data set would have been worse than noise for someone trying to sell me stuff.

Re: Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

#39

Post by peteradio »

pavlov wrote: post #38

This seems like a curious data set because it’s likely to be often very misleading about the adult person’s interests. I spent all my money on computer games at age 12. At 19 I thought they were pointless and never bought one for the next fifteen years. The teenage data set would have been worse than noise for someone trying to sell me stuff.

Forget about them targeting you specifically. They can use you then to lure someone with similar traits now.

Re: Debit card apps for kids are collecting a shocking amount of personal data

#40

Post by zbrozek »

basisword wrote: post #28
chrisseaton wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where I live, many do not anymore. That's a trend that's only going to spread and accelerate. Hence the product.

Really? Mind if I ask where? As much as cash use has dwindled here in the UK (at least anecdotally) I’ve never come across a store that won’t accept cash. I know a couple that didn’t accept it early in the pandemic (due to fear of covid spreading on cash) but that didn’t last long.

I got a drink at Happy Lemon in Sunnyvale, CA a couple days ago and they didn't take cash.
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