Common Sense Media Review
By Mieke VanderBorght
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Shopping YouTubers ooze consumerism, ads; not for kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Vlad and Niki Supermarket game
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What's It About?
Tap play to enter VLAD AND NIKI SUPERMARKET GAME, and then choose one of four character icons to play a game. A short animation sets up the game: Vlad and Niki are bored, dad needs some tools, or mom needs food from the supermarket, for example. At the store, kids see a short shopping list. Kids must choose those items as they appear on the shelf while dad, Vlad, and Niki walk through the store. Sometimes Niki grabs items off the shelf that are not on the list. When the family makes it to the cash register, kids choose the right amount of money to pay for the items. Then, back at home, kids put the items away where they belong.
Is It Any Good?
This blatant attempt to rake in more cash from a popular YouTube channel encourages materialistic thinking and offers very little of value to kids. Not only is Vlad and Niki Supermarket game constantly interrupted by ads and pushes to upgrade or rate, but also the app prizes shopping as something that's fun, exciting, and a reward for good behavior. And because there's no parent gate, kids can click through ads or the invite to upgrade without a parent's permission.
Not only that, but the experience the ads interrupt is full of errors and weak attempts to create something that might look vaguely educational. Kids need to match pictures to find the right items on the store shelf, and then place those items in the right place at home. Also, game mechanics are poorly designed. Kids' choices don't seem to have any effect on what happens in the game. For example, choosing Niki "helper" or Niki "mischief" doesn't actually change anything that Niki does. While at the store, dad makes comments that aren't at all relevant to what kids are doing. And it doesn't make any difference if kids choose the items on the shopping list. Language use doesn't make sense either. For example, mom asks dad "How is your repairment going?" when asking about some house repair he's supposedly been working on. Or, the kids say "Mommy camed in" and "We were so boreded." So, no matter how much your kids love Vlad and Niki, it's best to steer clear of this app.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the strong themes of consumerism. Is it exciting to go shopping? Why or why not? What are your family's values?
Make your family's policies around in-app purchases clear. Unless you plan on buying the full version, be present with kids as they play. Talk about why there are so many ads and discuss if there's a way to enjoy the app despite the ads.
Discuss why Vlad and Niki Supermarket game may be appealing. For kids who watch the Vlad and Niki YouTube channel, does it seem like it could be fun to play with these familiar characters?
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Pricing structure : Free to try (free version comes with ads. $.99 to get rid of ads; $2.99 for full version with no ads)
- Release date : October 29, 2020
- Genre : Family Games
- Publisher : Oculist
- Version : 1.4
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 10.0 or later; Android 4.4
- Last updated : July 26, 2021
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