Managing kids’ internet use and spending is a huge challenge for parents in the digital age
Unexpected situations happen more often than you’d think. Recently in China, a shocking story emerged when a couple found out their 8-year-old daughter used their bank account to donate 71,803 yuan (over 260 million VND) to a male streamer. Even though the parents’ phones were password protected, the girl managed to make the transactions, leaving them panicked and desperate for help.
Specifically, a mother from Xinjiang shared that her daughter became obsessed with a popular livestreamer. The girl spent hours watching streams and idolizing him. Despite the parents setting phone passwords and monitoring screen time, she still found a way to access the account.
The mother recalled in shock when she suddenly noticed their savings disappearing: “I needed money for something, so I checked our bank account and saw only 50 yuan left. It was terrifying. This was money we worked hard to save.
My 8-year-old often used my phone at home to play. When her grandparents used the phone to pay or transfer money, they didn’t hide the passwords from her, so she memorized them”, showing how smart but reckless kids can be when drawn into the online world.
Not only that, the girl knew how to use online payment apps to make transactions. She kept donating large sums to get the streamer’s attention and became the top donor. This shows how tech-savvy kids are today, much more than adults realize.
“Then she used the phone to enter the livestream room, attracted by the enthusiastic greetings and flashy performances of the male streamer. She started sending him virtual gifts. Over 70,000 yuan of our savings vanished, so I called the police for help”, the parents were stunned and couldn’t believe what happened.
The family’s entire savings disappeared due to a lack of control over their child.
Parents panic and seek help, a lesson for the community
After discovering what happened, the parents immediately contacted the police and the platform’s customer service. They helped gather detailed bank transaction records, tracking times and amounts. After persistent efforts, the platform confirmed the high-value purchases were made by a minor without guardian consent. They approved a full refund and successfully recovered the lost money.
The relieved parent said: “Thanks to the police’s help, the money was recovered.”
The police chief said they were glad to help the family but warned that recovering money isn’t easy and requires legal intervention. They hope parents and platforms learn from this case and strengthen supervision of minors’ use of devices and mobile payments. This incident caused serious financial damage and serves as a big lesson for families.
This story is a costly wake-up call for all parents
Don’t neglect managing kids’ devices: Passwords alone aren’t enough. Parents should regularly check usage history, limit screen time, and monitor what content kids access.
Control spending and bank accounts: Make sure kids can’t easily make payments. Use spending management apps to get alerts for every transaction.
Spend time talking with your kids: More than anything, parents need to talk and connect with their children, helping them understand money’s value and online risks.
This 8-year-old’s case is a clear example of the serious consequences when kids dive into the online world without close adult supervision. Hopefully, it reminds parents how important it is to educate and protect children from online dangers.
Source: Ettoday
