In a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Secretary Donald S. Clark and FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Andrew Smith, public interest groups ask that the Commission investigate the marketplace of apps targeting young children. A new study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics has identified several concerning practices in apps designated as “Designed for Families” in the Google Play Store. These apps routinely lure young children to make purchases and watch ads, though they are marketed to parents as appropriate for young children.
