270: Should I Let My Kid Make In-App Purchases in Video Games?

About this episode

This episode discusses the complexities of in-app purchases in video games and how parents can navigate them with their tweens and teens.

Loot boxes, in-app purchases, Robux, skins — and a kid who won't stop asking for them. If you're a parent of a tween or teen gamer, you already know this pressure. But are these purchases actually harmful, or are you just out of touch with how gaming works today? In-app purchases are one of the most confusing pressure points for parents of tweens and teens right now. The games are "free to download," but they’re not really free. And when real money turns into Robux or gems, it can disappear fast. In this episode, clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan break down exactly what's going on inside these video games, what parents actually need to worry about, and how to set clear, calm limits without turning every gaming session into a fight. 💡 YOU'LL LEARN: - Why "free-to-play" games aren't actually free, and how to explain the business model to your kid in a way that sticks - The difference between cosmetic skins and loot boxes - How virtual currencies like Robux and gems are specifically designed to make spending feel like it's not real money - A simple framework for talking about whose money, how much, and what happens when it runs out - How…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dr. Lisa Damour, Reena Ninan

Topics covered

• in-app purchases
• video games
• parenting
• tweens
• teens
• gaming pressure

Keywords

• in-app purchases
• video games
• parenting
• Robux
• loot boxes
• gaming limits

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: gaming

Products: Robux, skins, loot boxes

More episodes of Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life

• 281: ENCORE: Talk to Your Boys: Raising Confident, Caring Young Men · July 21, 2026 · 42 min
• 280: ENCORE: Dream School: How Do You Find the Right College for Your Teen? · July 14, 2026 · 38 min
• 279: ENCORE: The Summer of Building Independence · July 7, 2026 · 31 min
• 278: ENCORE: How to Stay Connected When Teens Pull Away · June 30, 2026 · 42 min
• 277: ENCORE: Embracing ADHD with Penn and Kim Holderness · June 23, 2026 · 43 min
• 276: ENCORE: Lessons from Netflix’s “Adolescence” · June 16, 2026 · 32 min