Learn About Money Online

Children and young people encounter money in more ways than most adults ever did growing up, due to how money and spending can show up online. Loot boxes, “free trials”, in-game currencies, subscriptions, flash sales, creator merch, reselling, and marketplaces - many of these systems are designed to make spending feel quick, fun and frictionless. Learning how money works online is just as important as learning to save, budget, or use cash in offline contexts.

In a nutshell

Online money systems include:

In-app purchases (skins, coins, upgrades)
Subscriptions (Netflix, Roblox Premium, Spotify, editing apps)
Free trials that auto-renew
Loot boxes with randomised rewards
In-game currencies (V-Bucks, Robux, gems)
Microtransactions (small purchases that add up)
Online reselling (Marketplace, Depop, game-item trading)
Influencer advertising that encourages buying

For many tamariki, digital spending feels less real because they never see physical money change hands, and that makes guidance essential as they start out exploring ways to spend money online.

5-minute whānau safety check

Our devices require approval before purchases
We’ve turned off one-click or “tap to buy” features
We’ve talked about free trials turning into paid subscriptions
We know how to review subscription lists regularly
My child knows they must check with an adult before buying anything

What to expect

When your child starts exploring apps or platforms that have the options to spend online money you might notice:

Excitement about “limited-time” deals
Requests for game currencies
Surprising charges or forgotten subscriptions
Influencers promoting products they suddenly want
Interest in giveaways or “free item” promotions
Urgent calls for spending (“Everyone in my game has this!”)

None of this means they’re making bad decisions, it means they’re encountering persuasive design.

If your child is anxious about missing out, scared to tell you about a mistake, or hiding purchases, it’s a sign to pause and talk.

What's the up-side?

Learning about online spending systems is an important step in becoming a safe and responsible digital citizen

Learning financial literacy

Online purchases help young people learn about budgeting, comparing deals, and managing wants vs needs.

Responsibility and independence

With guidance, tamariki can practise making small, thoughtful spending decisions.

Creativity and entrepreneurship

Some young people resell items, create digital art, or trade in-game items, building confidence and skills.

Understanding digital systems

Young people learn how games, platforms and creators earn money, a key life skill in the digital economy.

I sold my old keyboard online and used the money to buy a better one. It made me feel like I had control

Youth Participant

No Single Online Experience – Youth Roadshow Report 2025

What's the flip-side?

Online spending brings real risks that young people may not recognise.

Subscription traps

A “7-day free trial” can quickly turn into an expensive monthly charge.

Loot boxes and random reward systems

Loot boxes act a bit like slot machines, offering random rewards, bright colours, and “big win” moments. Young people may chase rewards without noticing the impacts.

Scams, fake sellers & phishing

Fake sellers may request payment through unsafe methods or disappear after money is sent.

Impulse purchasing

Games and apps often encourage “just one more” small spend, which adds up fast.

Influencer persuasion

Your child may trust creators more than brands, not realising they’re being paid to promote products.

Emotional pressure

Some young people feel left out if they don’t buy what friends are using or wearing in games.

Safety Check

Use the settings

Turn off in-app purchases for young tamariki
Require your approval for all downloads
Use store settings to block adult content and scams
Set strong passwords for app-store accounts
Bookmark trusted shopping sites
Show them how to cancel a subscription

Check subscriptions regularly

Once a term, check the subscriptions that a running and query whether they are being used, and whether they were intentional sign-ups.

Be scam savvy

Sit together and spot examples of 'too good to be true' offers online and learn about checking seller credentials and websites carefully before spending

Set budgets

If relevant, agree on a budgeted amount your child can spend on their apps or games. Consider switching payment methods from bank cards to online gift-cards so your child can check their own spending balances.

Top Tips

Click on each block to learn more about how you can support your whānau to find balance with screentime and screen use.

Show interest in their opinions about online spending and the different ways that their socials, games and apps involve opportunities to spend, trade or subscribe. Explore their perspectives on value and cost.

"How many times a day do you think you get asked to buy something online?"
"When do ads and offers tend to pop up the most?"
"Are you ever tempted to buy something? Why / why not?"
“What makes something feel worth paying for?”

Normalise conversations about money, budgets and online spending. Use real-life examples as an opportunity to have chat together. For example, if you made a purchase online then talk about it over dinner and share your decision making process, or what you checked out before finalising the purchase (reviews, comparing prices, checking subscription terms, pausing and reflecting on need versus want).

Show your tamariki how you decide on making an online purchase, and review subscriptions together from time to time to audit what you still use, and which subscriptions could be suspended.

Practise checking prices, reviews or trial terms.
“Look, this app renews soon. Do we still use it?”
Create shared ‘spending guidelines’ so everyone is aligned on what permissions are required, what spending limits are in place, or how many paid apps can be in play at a time.

Celebrate smart decisions or times they paused before buying.

Likewise, if you (or they) make a purchase by mistake – respond calmly and talk about it; mistakes are a part of learning.