Tap Zoo

On 2 April 2011 (Sat)...

Ying Ying: (showing iphone) Papa, can I download this?
Papa: Is it free?
Ying Ying: YES! It's free!
Papa: Sure ah.... (keyed in password then continued to read newspapers)
On 4 April 2011 (Mon)...

Papa: WHO DOWNLOADED TAP ZOO?!?! DO YOU KNOW IT COST ME $500?!!??

Turned out this app isn't really FREE after all. After the app is downloaded, one could buy 'food' to 'feed' the animals with REAL money. The sinister thing is that they save your password and you don't have to key again to pay. That was how Ying Ying ended up spending $500+ on this app, which was angrily deleted by hubby immediately, together with all other kiddy apps....

$500! So heartpain....just imagine the amount of things we could buy! But I don't entirely blame Ying Ying because I doubt she knew she was paying with REAL money when she made her 'food' purchases. I could tell she felt guilty because she had little appetite for the rest of her dinner. If anything, I think hubby deserved it because I once told him to be more selective in choosing suitable apps for them i.e. is there any educational value instead of just playing mindless games. Instead, he was more concerned whether the apps were free or not. -_- PLUS, instead of spending quality time with her, he chose to lend her his phone so that he could read his newspapers in peace. Tsk tsk! :(

Needless to say, Ying Ying is now banned from using ALL phones and the ipad for a long, long time....

Lessons learnt:

1) Do NOT let your kid use your phone unsupervised. Sitting next to them (while eating / reading newspapers / watching TV) doesn't equate to supervision. You have to check on them constantly to know exactly what they are up to.

2) Beware of 'free' apps - nothing comes for free in this world.