1 in 3 Parents Have Caught Their Child Making an Online Purchase Without Permission

Kids’ secret online shopping is costing parents money and energy. Nearly one in three parents has discovered their child made an online purchase without asking. And while the typical unapproved shopping spree costs families about $170, some parents reported losing much more.

In fact, 19% said the damage topped $300, with kids buying not just video games or fashion items, but also bigger-ticket products like smartphones, computers, cameras, and even cryptocurrency.

These findings come from a survey of 2,000 U.S. parents with children under 18, conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Achieve.

Why so many surprise charges?

The study found it isn’t just curiosity or temptation it’s also a lack of oversight and financial education.

• 23% of parents said they rarely or never check their child’s debit or credit card activity.
• 11% rarely or never require permission before kids make digital purchases.
• And most striking: 72% of parents believe their children don’t fully understand the value of money.

That gap becomes even harder to bridge when it comes to cashless payments. 44% of parents admitted it’s more difficult to explain the value of digital money compared to handing over physical bills and coins. As Brad Stroh, co-CEO of Achieve, put it: “Overspending online can be a slippery slope for anyone, but it’s especially true for kids in an era where nearly everything is just a click away.”

Related: Kids Listen to Only Half the Financial Advice Parents Give Them—Here's How to Make It Count

Allowance isn’t always the solution

Most parents (57%) give their kids a regular allowance, usually in cash (73%). On average, children receive about $119 a month, though 14% get more than $250.

Even with that budget, overspending still happens, and only 12% of parents said their kids never go over their budget. 

When unapproved purchases happen, parents usually start with a conversation (56%). Others take away the device (23%), make the child pay back the money (20%), or restrict bank account access (11%).

 Related: How to Explain Loot Boxes and In-Game Purchases to Kids

The bigger challenge: teaching value

Numbers aside, the survey revealed a deeper worry. 66% of parents said they’d feel more comfortable with their child’s spending if the child showed they truly understood the value of money. And 61% admitted they wish a financial expert could step in to teach healthy spending habits.

Kids spend a huge part of their lives online, and keeping up with every click isn’t realistic. What is realistic is putting the right tools in place. With Bitdefender Parental Control, included in all family plans, you can set boundaries on internet time, filter out harmful content, and keep an eye on digital purchases. The alerts and activity reports you receive then become teaching moments, giving you the chance to guide your child and talk about value when those limits are crossed.

Find out more about your family safety plan, here.