Parent’s Toolkit: Setting Up Kid-Safe Accounts for Diablo Immortal and CoD Mobile

Hook: Protect your wallet and your kid — fast

Parents: if you’ve ever seen a surprise charge from a free-to-play game, or watched your child grind for hours because they were “one item away,” you’re not alone. In early 2026 Italy’s competition authority opened investigations into Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile for aggressive monetization and designs that nudge minors into spending. That makes this the moment to lock down accounts, set bulletproof payment controls, and understand the age-gate and supervised-account workarounds that keep kids safe — and your bank account intact.

Why this matters in 2026

Regulators from the AGCM to EU bodies are pressing publishers for clearer disclosure and stronger protections around in-game purchases. Game-makers are still iterating: free-to-play business models remain dominant and in-app currency bundles and limited-time offers are standard practice. For parents, the best defense is a layered approach that combines platform parental controls, secure account setup, and in-game settings.

"These practices... may influence players as consumers — including minors — leading them to spend significant amounts" — AGCM, Jan 2026

Overview: Three layers of protection

Think in terms of three defensive layers:

• Device & platform controls — iOS Screen Time, Google Family Link, App Store/Play Store purchase authentication.
• Account hygiene — supervised/child accounts, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, removal of stored payment methods.
• In-game settings — chat/privacy controls, friend invites, and any in-app purchase toggles or spending notifications.

Step-by-step: Set up kid-safe accounts for Diablo Immortal

Diablo Immortal uses an Activision/Blizzard account sign-in on mobile. That means account-level protection (and removing payment methods) combined with platform controls is the most effective approach.

1) Create a supervised/parent-managed gaming account

1. Do not let your child create the Activision/Blizzard account alone. Create the account using an email you control.
2. Set the birthdate to your child’s actual age — many protections depend on it. If the game blocks some features, keep the account under your supervision rather than faking an older age.
3. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on the account immediately. Visit the account settings on the Activision/Blizzard site and add an authenticator or email verification.

2) Remove stored payment methods and use controlled alternatives

Diablo Immortal offers cosmetic and progression transactions via the app store. Reduce impulse spending by removing or limiting payment options:

• Remove saved credit/debit cards from the device and account.
• Use App Store or Google Play gift cards with a fixed balance for safe, capped spending.
• Consider a prepaid card or a low-balance virtual card (many banks offer single-use or limited cards) for one-off purchases you approve.

3) Lock purchases via platform settings (iOS and Android)

These exact controls are available on current devices in 2026 and should be your first line of defense.

iOS (Screen Time):

1. Open Settings > Screen Time. If it’s not set up, enable Screen Time and create a Screen Time passcode you keep secret.
2. Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases.
3. Set In-app Purchases to Don't Allow. Also set Require Password or Face/Touch ID for purchases to Always Require.
4. Use App Limits to restrict daily time on Diablo Immortal.

Android (Google Play & Family Link):

1. Install Google Family Link on parent and child devices. Create a supervised Google account for the child.
2. Open Play Store > Profile > Settings > Authentication > Require authentication for purchases. Set to "For all purchases through Google Play on this device."
3. In Family Link, set payment approval so that every purchase requires parental approval.
4. Remove saved payment methods on the child’s device; store balances or gift cards on the child’s account only if you want controlled spending.

4) Tweak in-game privacy & social settings

In Diablo Immortal, parents should:

• Turn off or limit chat and global chat features from Settings > Social or Chat (where available).
• Disable friend invitations or set friend privacy to “Friends of Friends”/“Friends Only.”
• Be cautious with third-party account linking (Facebook/Google). Linking can make account recovery easier but may also enable cross-device access.

5) Monitor activity and receipts

• Enable email receipts on purchases and route them to your inbox.
• Turn on banking alerts for transactions so you see charges the moment they occur.
• Review activity in the Battle.net/Activision account outbox and mobile app purchase history monthly.

Step-by-step: Set up kid-safe accounts for Call of Duty Mobile

Call of Duty Mobile (CoD Mobile) generally uses an Activision ID and ties into Google Play or Apple purchases on mobile. It also has strong social features and competitive modes that can increase playtime and monetization pressure.

1) Supervised Activision ID and platform account

1. Create the Activision ID using a parental email address and enable 2FA.
2. On Android, connect the account to the supervised Google account created with Family Link. On iOS, use an Apple ID under your Family Sharing if appropriate.

2) Stop in-app purchases at the source

Use the same platform purchase locks described above (iOS Screen Time and Google Play authentication). For CoD Mobile, these are particularly effective because most IAPs are processed by the store.

3) Use 'Ask to Buy' / purchase approvals

• Apple Family Sharing: enable Ask to Buy so that any store purchase triggers a request to a parent’s device for approval.
• Google Family Link: set up purchase approvals for the child account so no purchase goes through without explicit consent.

4) Disable competitive chat and voice

CoD Mobile includes voice and text chat which can expose kids to pressure and in-game persuasion to buy cosmetics or battle passes:

• Open Settings > Social/Audio/Chat and toggle voice chat off.
• Turn off cross-play or friend invites if the game offers those toggles to reduce exposure to strangers.

5) Explain the monetization model to your child

CoD Mobile’s battle pass and limited-time bundles are engineered to trigger FOMO. A short, clear chat with these bullets helps:

• “Cosmetics don’t make you better at the game.”
• “We’ll only buy battle passes or bundles after we agree.”
• “We’ll use gift cards or set a monthly allowance for the game.”

Payment lock tips that actually work

Beyond turning off in-app purchases, use these practical techniques to prevent accidental or impulsive buys.

1) Remove or restrict payment methods

• Don’t keep cards on file. Remove payment methods from the device settings and store accounts.
• Prefer store gift cards (App Store / Google Play) for predictable limits.
• If you want the child to make occasional purchases, use a prepaid card with a set monthly balance or a virtual card with a single charge limit.

2) Require authentication for every purchase

Set the store to require authentication for every purchase—not just after 15 minutes. This prevents a child from hitting a few buttons and racking up charges.

3) Use bank tools and alerts

• Set transaction alerts in your banking app or via SMS for any charge above a low threshold (e.g., $1).
• Consider a separate card for digital purchases to view activity quickly and stop recurring charges.

4) Maintain a regular receipts check

At least weekly, scan email receipts and in-app purchase histories for unauthorized transactions. Quick response to the platform/store support minimizes refunds and abuse.

Age-gate workarounds (for parents, not for kids)

Age gates were designed to limit minors’ access to certain features but are often easy to bypass. Here’s what you can do as a parent — responsibly — when the age gate becomes a problem or when it’s been bypassed:

1) Use a supervised account instead of fake ages

Some parents are tempted to enter an older birth year so the child can access multiplayer. That exposes them to monetization and social risk. Instead:

• Create the account with the correct age, then manage it from a parental email. Supervision retains safety without lying on forms.
• Contact support (Activision/Blizzard customer service) to request parental consent flow if necessary. Keep records of communications.

2) If a child has already bypassed an age gate

1. Change the account password and enable 2FA immediately.
2. Review the account’s email and recover options and move them to your control.
3. Remove saved payment methods and review purchase history for refunds if necessary.

3) Use device supervision features

For persistent attempts to bypass age gates, limit account creation and app installation with:

• Apple: use Family Sharing, ask to buy, and Screen Time to prevent new app installs.
• Android: use Family Link to block app installs and require approval for changes.

Practical checklist: 10-minute parent lockdown

Follow this checklist now and you’ll block the most common risk vectors:

1. Create/verify the Activision ID with a parent email and enable 2FA.
2. Remove cards from the game account and mobile device payment settings.
3. Enable iOS Screen Time or Google Family Link and set purchase authentication to always require.
4. Add App Store / Google Play gift cards if you want a controlled allowance.
5. Disable in-game voice/text chat and friend invites.
6. Turn on email receipts and banking alerts for any purchase.
7. Set an app time limit for Diablo Immortal and CoD Mobile and schedule device downtime for homework/sleep.
8. Talk with your child about rules for spending and playing; set a monthly allowance if appropriate.
9. Keep the Screen Time passcode private and rotate it occasionally.
10. Save contact details for support (Activision/Blizzard, Apple, Google) in case you need a refund or help recovering an account.

What to do if a charge happens anyway

Act quickly — most app stores and publishers have time-limited refund windows and fraud protections.

1. Contact the platform: Apple/Google both have in-app purchase refund request flows in purchase history.
2. Contact your bank to dispute fraudulent charges and ask for chargeback options if needed.
3. Contact Activision/Blizzard support with purchase receipts and account details; request a refund. Include evidence if the purchase was made by a minor without consent.

2026 trends & what parents should expect next

Late 2025 and early 2026 have seen rising regulatory scrutiny (AGCM’s investigation being a prominent example). Expect a few ecosystem-level changes that will make the life of parents easier in 2026 and beyond:

• Greater transparency in how virtual currency maps to real-world value — publishers will be pressured to disclose exact conversions and bundle economics.
• Expanded store-level parental APIs — both Apple and Google are improving the parental controls APIs so third-party family safety apps can enforce spending caps more granularly.
• Industry adoption of more robust age verification and parental-consent flows as regulators push for stronger safeguards for minors in gaming.

Real-world example: How this stopped a $180 charge

Case study: a parent we assisted in late 2025 found a $180 Diablo Immortal pack charged to their card. After immediate action (removing payment methods, filing a Google Play refund request, and enabling Screen Time with in-app purchases blocked), the charge was refunded pending review — and the family set a monthly gift-card allowance thereafter. The combination of fast detection and platform-level locks made the difference.

Final do’s and don’ts

• Do set up supervised accounts, require approvals, and use gift cards for allowances.
• Do enable 2FA on game accounts and your payment method accounts.
• Do explain spending limits to children and make purchasing a negotiated activity.
• Don’t falsify ages to bypass restrictions — that removes protections and can expose your child to aggressive monetization and social risks.
• Don’t keep payment methods on file if you can avoid it. Remove them after each approved purchase if necessary.

Actionable takeaway — your 15-minute plan

Parents: start now with this quick plan. It takes about 15 minutes and will block most accidental spend and reduce exposure to monetization cues.

1. Create/secure the child’s Activision/Blizzard ID and enable 2FA.
2. Open the device and disable in-app purchases (iOS Screen Time or Google Play authentication).
3. Remove saved payment methods and put a small gift card balance on the child’s account if you want a controlled allowance.
4. Disable chat and friend invites in each game’s social settings.
5. Set app time limits and talk to your child about the new rules.

Closing — stay one step ahead

Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile are engineered to be engaging — and sometimes expensive. In 2026, with regulators tightening oversight and publishers updating monetization flows, the smartest move is a proactive one: combine platform locks, account controls, payment limits, and clear family rules. Do this, and you’ll protect your child and your wallet while still letting them enjoy the games.

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Ready to lock things down? Follow the 15-minute plan above now, then visit bestgames.top for downloadable checklists, monthly allowance templates, and our updated refunds guide for Diablo Immortal and CoD Mobile. Join our parenting & gaming community to share experiences and get alerts about regulatory updates and safety tools.

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