“The Commission has long recognized the vulnerability of young people to unfair and deceptive practices,” writes the nonprofit in its complaint.
The nonprofit is calling for the agency to investigate Prodigy for deceptive marketing - by telling schools on its website and other marketing materials that the product is “completely free” - and unfair tactics for using persuasive design to promote its paid product to kids. “Schools are signing up for this thinking it is free and not understanding that there’s enormous commercial pressure put on children and families when they play at home,” said Josh Golin, the campaign's executive director. These included messages highlighting how members “have more fun” or get “better pets.” The Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood said in its letter of complaint that during 19 minutes of gameplay it saw 16 unique advertisements for membership and only four math problems. While the game is given to schools free for students to play in a restricted mode with only their classmates, when children play the unrestricted version of the game at home, they receive regular reminders and messages encouraging them to become members, which costs $59.88 to $107.40 per child per year.
