A Japanese game streamer recently blew up X (formerly Twitter) with a wild tale: his 10-year-old son somehow managed to drop a staggering ¥3.85 million (roughly US$24,500) on multiple mobile games in just over a month! The internet went absolutely bonkers, with countless parents chiming in, saying this was "no laughing matter."
The streamer, known as "Dopaningen" (whose YouTube channel is aptly named "
My Gacha Channel"), initially just thought his credit card bill looked "a bit off." But a closer look revealed the shocking truth: between early April and May 13th, his 10-year-old had gone on an epic spending spree across various mobile games and platforms, racking up that mind-boggling ¥3.85 million total.
"Even I, a self-proclaimed 'whale' player, can't compete with my son's spending," he lamented. The sheer shock was so immense that he's dubbed the whole ordeal the "385 Incident" and plans to stick a "Don't Forget 385" note in his son's room as a permanent cautionary tale.
According to spending records compiled by netizens, the games involved included titles like "Roblox" and "The Battle Cats." "Roblox," in particular, was singled out by many parents for its "insane money-sucking power." One user commented, "The way Roblox is designed to let you drop tens of thousands of yen at once is truly terrifying."
Others pointed out that the child likely started with small, innocent purchases of a few hundred yen, but the amounts gradually spiraled out of control, eventually leading to massive credit card charges.
What really spooked many parents was the original poster's revelation that he *had* set up parental controls and spending limits. However, these apparently became inactive after a phone change, allowing his son free rein with the credit card. Unsurprisingly, many parents with kids instantly resonated with his plight.
One parent shared a similar story of their child secretly spending on Roblox, while others revealed that kids actually swap tips on how to bypass passwords and restrictions. One parent even chuckled wryly, "After hearing how they bypass the passwords, I just think today's kids are way too smart."
Following the incident, many also debated whether such a massive sum could be refunded. Some netizens noted that under Japanese law, minors are considered "persons with limited capacity to act." If a guardian can prove they were unaware of the purchases, there's a theoretical chance to argue the contract is invalid and apply for a refund from the platform.
However, others cautioned that if high-value transactions went unnoticed for an extended period, the guardian's responsibility for credit card management might be scrutinized, meaning a full refund isn't guaranteed.
With mobile games becoming ubiquitous, stories of kids racking up huge bills are increasingly common. Perhaps it's a stark reminder for all parents to stay vigilant and educate their children to prevent such issues.