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It's disapointing to see zero criticism applied to Apple and Google.

All of Apple's credability about needing to maintain control over iOS apps and App Store goes out the window once it's evident they make a fuck tonne of money selling casino games to children (and adults).




Yes, It will not be a popular opinion around here, but I think it's worth mentioning that it's very difficulty for our Governments to help these abused people. A government need to draft legislation, debate it, and get it passed. All the wile assaulted by a powerful lobby group.

Apple and Google simply need to draft a policy and decide to do it.


I don't even know how Big Fish Games can be criticized here?

These people are literally, knowingly giving their money, with no expectation of getting any back.


Companies like Big Fish expend huge amounts of effort researching how to make their games more addictive.

They are criticised because they have created something expressly designed to develop compulsion in as many people as possible. They aggressively tune their products to increase that compulsion and to prevent their victims from breaking it.


To play the devil's advocate, how is it any different from a tv studio designing addictive tv shows?

At the end of the day, there needs to be some level of personal responsibility.


The main difference is that a TV studio isn't trying to get you to spend an unbounded amount of money. As a result it limits the total harm that can be inflicted, hence why TV addiction isn't considered as bad a problem as other forms.


The other reply to this from zeroonetwothree hits the nail on the head. The major difference is in the capacity for serious harm. That's not to say that there shouldn't be more oversight of manipulation in other industries.

> At the end of the day, there needs to be some level of personal responsibility.

Why is it that the concept of personal responsibility is never applied to those employing the psychological manipulation tactics? My belief is that it's their personal responsibility to refrain from such behaviour.


The devil does not need an advocate.




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