App + Game Reviews

AFL Live Official App

Cyber Expert Reviewer:

Jordan Foster

Clinical Child Psychologist

Reviewed on Oct 5, 2020

The AFL Live official app is a sports app which allows users to interactively watch and track their favourite football teams. The main features include access to radio coverage of matches, live game scores and statistics, interviews and player/team tracking. Users can be prompted to purchase an ‘AFL live pass’ within the app, which gives them access to more exclusive features such as watching games live. There is also the opportunity for gambling or tipping on games, however if you acknowledge that you are under 18 when signing up for the app, betting content will be hidden from users. Regardless, gambling is not a prominent feature of the app.

App Store Rating

Ages 18+

ySafe Recommendation

Ages 9+

Known Risks

Sexting & Hook-ups

Privacy & Security

Adult Content

Cyberbullying

Deception

Violence

Predators

Gambling

Costs

1.5

Screen-time

What parents need to know

How to disable gambling in app

The app features a tipping link which takes users to a webpage where they can sign up to an official AFL gambling website through email sign up or Facebook, which children could get around by using a parents email or parent facebook account. However, upon downloading the app users are asked if they are under 18 years old and if the user responds ‘no’ then access to this tipping area of the app is automatically unavailable. Further instructions for how to prohibit access to tipping can be found below. Although there is the ability to engage in gambling, this feature is not actively pushed in the app.

Safe credit card usage for kids

Certain areas of the app such as when users try to watch a game live prompt a pop up which states they need to purchase an ‘AFL Live App’ pass for which they would then need to enter credit card details. Kids can sometimes harmlessly enter parents credit card details to keep up with their favourite teams, without understanding they are spending real money. It is important to help them understand how to responsibly use your details!

A form of gaming: AFL Fantasy

In the same area as the tipping feature, there is the ability to join AFL fantasy. This is a virtual reality game of sorts, by which users can pick players to create their ‘fantasy’ team to ‘play out’ games throughout the real time football season and receive statistics based on their choices. There is no gambling involved in that there is nothing tangible up for stake, however this does create the opportunity for increased screen time for users and is considered gaming. This feature has to be sought out and is not prominently pushed in the app.

Healthy screen time

Usage of this app to watch or stream games can increase screen time of users as well as data usage. In light of this, watching games could be a fun event shared between friends and family and provide quality bonding time.

What users need to know

Location tracking isn’t necessary on this app

Privacy settings such as location can be toggled and hidden for users to ensure safety of personal information. The disablement of push notifications such as notification of AFL news or games may reduce distractions from the app during day to day activities.

Gambling and young minds

Tipping and gambling areas of the app should be switched off if you are under the age of 18, gambling can seem harmless however has been proven to be addictive to young minds and is strongly linked to gambling addictions later on in life. We suggest turning this off to avoid problems!

How tos

Privacy Settings

Location Services

Location services within the app can be switched off to improve privacy and security by going to the ‘Your account’ area > ‘More settings’ > Use my location’ (on/off)

Gambling settings

Tipping and gambling areas of the app can be switched off or hidden via toggling these buttons on/off once you go into the ‘your account’ area of the app.