Pinkfong Baby Shark - SMARTSTUDY PINKFONG

App Review

This review of Pinkfong Baby Shark was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 21 June 2021.

About the app

This section contains details about the app provided by an ACCM Reviewer.

ACCM review

This review of Pinkfong Baby Shark contains the following information:

• The level to which the game was reviewed
• App description
• Reviewers comments
• In App purchasing
• Online information
• Gambling
• Advertising and product placement
• Gender stereotypes and sexual references
• Coarse language
• Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents
• Other

The level to which the game was reviewed

All elements of the game were explored.

App description

Pinkfong Baby Shark is an app that contains a variety of Baby Shark-themed entertainment and activities. The user can listen to various versions of the Baby Shark tune and other songs, or engage in some interactive activities and games: a music game – tapping on things makes sounds and musical effects; tapping games – e.g. a race, popping bubbles, catching cupcakes; drawing – selecting from different canvases, pens and brushes; a memory card game.

Reviewers comments

This app contains multiple options for children to explore different activities. Even though the developer classifies the app “educational”, entertainment dominates over educational aspects. Some activities are passive entertainment, like watching music videos. The music videos provide a learning opportunity for children who can read, to read the lyrics and sing along. The app does not contain any written instructions aimed at children, and the app and all elements can be used intuitively, making the activities suitable for young users. Some other activities require the user’s active participation, e.g. different tapping games, requiring and fostering speed, accuracy, and fine motor skills. The featured card game encourages some visual memorisation, but the learning is limited because there are only 6 cards (3 pairs) and there is no option of progression to more difficult or advanced levels. A couple of tapping games count points, but different scores are not rewarded differently, and personal bests are not saved, which limits pressure and addictiveness and provides a sense of mastery and positive encouragement, but also limits motivation to improve. The drawing game allows for some creative expression and challenges fine motor skills because the canvases contain rather small and detailed outlines.

Parents whose kids enjoy this app may want to consider investing in the ads-free version which makes the experience safer and less disrupted.

In the Baby Shark Song-fashion, the voices have a strong American(-inspired) accent.

In App purchasing

There is In-App purchasing in this game, examples include:

• In a designated section accessible through the start page, several purchases are on offer:
  • Remove ads: $2.99
  • Pinkfong Plus (Monthly): $14.99
  • Pinkfong Plus (Annual): $164.99 (“on sale” at the time of review: $97.99)
  • Clicking activates a parental lock system in the form of a written prompt to solve a simple math problem (e.g. 1+7 = ?), or a “sign in” is required, leading the user to the pinkfong.com website.
• In another designated area accessible through start page, “More Apps”, other Pinkfong apps are advertised. Clicking activates parental lock system in the form of a written prompt to solve a simple math problem (e.g. 1+7 = ?). Upon answering correctly, the user is connected to the app store.
• One of the menu items requires solving a maths problem upon which the user is directed to the pinkfong store on amazon.com

There are also pop up ads containing sales offers, e.g. “spring sale”. Clicking on the add leads directly to the app store without any parental lock system.

Please note: The instructions of and the maths problems themselves are easy and could be solved by some preschool and most primary school aged children. Parents are advised to set their app store settings requiring a password in order to process purchases.

Online information

It is not necessary to create an account or to provide any personal information to play this game.

There is some online connectivity, such as:

• There is connectivity to external websites, like amazon, and of advertised products and services.
• For some in-app purchases, the user needs to create a user account.

Gambling

At the time of review, the reviewer found no simulated gambling content. If you discover simulated gambling content in this app, please contact us with the details so we can update our review.

Advertising and product placement

There is advertising in this game, including:

• Related pinkfong products are advertised in specific areas but also as pop-up ads.
• Pop-up ads at the bottom of the screen, sometimes blowing up to full screen unprompted.

The ads encountered during the review process were targeted at an adult audience, advertising for example laptops, plumbing service, or food delivery. No inappropriate content of ads (e.g. for gambling or rated R games) was encountered. Clicking on ads connects the user to external websites or the app store.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

• None noted.

Coarse language

• None noted.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

• None noted.

Other

N/A.

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