This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact The Epoch Times Reprints.

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Times
AD
The Epoch Times
Australia Top News

95 Percent of Aussie Gamers, Including Kids, Exposed to Manipulative Tactics, Report Finds

Report urges federal action to curb manipulative gaming tactics with refunds, pricing rules, age safeguards, and a dedicated watchdog agency.
Google LogoMark Us Preferred on Google
95 Percent of Aussie Gamers, Including Kids, Exposed to Manipulative Tactics, Report Finds
A Minecraft digital artist at work in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on Oct. 10, 2017. Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Naziya Alvi Rahman
Naziya Alvi Rahman
4/16/2025|Updated: 4/16/2025
0:00

Almost all (95 percent) of Australian gamers have been exposed to manipulative design tactics, known as “dark patterns,” that push users to spend money or give up personal data, often without fully realising it.

The finding comes from a new report by the Consumer Policy Research Centre and Monash University, which looks into an industry operating unchecked while players, including children, remain vulnerable.

Google LogoMark Us Preferred on Google
Naziya Alvi Rahman
Naziya Alvi Rahman
Author
Naziya Alvi Rahman is a Canberra-based journalist who covers political issues in Australia. She can be reached at [email protected].
Author’s Selected Articles
Fuel Excise Relief to End in June, Minister Confirms
Jun 09, 2026
Fuel Excise Relief to End in June, Minister Confirms
14,000 Complaints Lodged as Customers Struggle to Cancel Phone, Internet Services
Jun 09, 2026
14,000 Complaints Lodged as Customers Struggle to Cancel Phone, Internet Services
Apple CEO Praises Australian PM for Under-16 Social Media Ban
Jun 09, 2026
Apple CEO Praises Australian PM for Under-16 Social Media Ban
Australia Secures 31,000 Tonnes of Fertiliser, 50 Million Litres of Diesel
Jun 09, 2026
Australia Secures 31,000 Tonnes of Fertiliser, 50 Million Litres of Diesel
AD
Add to My List
Save
The Epoch Times
Copyright © 2000 - 2026 The Epoch Times Association Inc. All Rights Reserved.