This review investigates UX/UI interactions in child‑targeted platforms and examines their effects on child development.

Fair Play: Buying to Belong

Key Findings Relevant to UX/UI Design and Child Development:

1. Design-Driven Pressure to Spend:
   • Mechanism: Platforms incorporate features such as visible pricing, leaderboards, and rotating shops to encourage social comparison and create a sense of urgency (FOMO).
   • Impact: These elements exploit adolescents' need for peer acceptance, leading to compulsive spending behaviors and potential financial harm.
2. Financial Harm:
   • Mechanism: The use of virtual currencies with variable dollar values and features like loot boxes obscure real-world spending.
   • Impact: Adolescents may unknowingly spend large sums, leading to unintended financial consequences.
3. Racism and Homophobia:
   • Mechanism: Some platforms sell virtual items that can be used to harass or exclude players based on race or sexual orientation.
   • Impact: This fosters environments where marginalized youth experience increased bullying and discrimination.
4. Harm to Physical and Mental Health:
   • Mechanism: Engagement-maximizing strategies, such as variable rewards and social features, encourage prolonged platform use.
   • Impact: Excessive screen time can negatively affect sleep, physical activity, and mental well-being.
5. Distorted Play:
   • Mechanism: The emphasis on transactional activities and status competition shifts the focus from creative, unstructured play to goal-driven behaviors.
   • Impact: This can hinder the development of cognitive, social, and emotional skills.

Guiding Questions to go more deeper

• The impact of exploitative UX/UI design on child and teen mental health?
• How virtual goods and social gaming affect self-esteem, anxiety, or social belonging?