Interpret: 91% of kids ask parents for permission when spending in mobile games

About 91 percent of children ages 3 to 12 ask for parental permission before making purchases in mobile games, according to a report from analyst firm Interpret. And among the kids who ask for permission, 27 percent — the biggest category — want items to customize their characters. Just 13 percent are looking to protect a kingdom or a city — the smallest category.

“Our just-released GameByte report shows that almost all children ask their parents’ permission before making in-game mobile purchases,” said Jesse Divnich, the vice president of research and strategy at Interpret, in an email to GamesBeat. “That means publishers and advertisers need to be mindful that they’re essentially targeting a dual customer base. Parents are always going to look out for what’s best for their children, and convincing parents that your game aligns with parents’ expectations is an important step in the engagement process.”