App Developer Lumosity Hit With $2M Fine By The FTC

There is a good chance that you may have heard of or come across an app or two that claims if you play their game, you will improve your brain’s performance, or at least help keep you sharp and alert which might be an appealing prospect for the elderly or for those suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Unfortunately it seems that most of these claims are untrue, at least for one developer that goes by the name Lumosity. So much so that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has slapped them with a massive $2 million fine for engaging in what they are calling deceptive trade practices.

In a statement put out by the FTC, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Jessica Rich said, “Lumosity preyed on consumers’ fears about age-related cognitive decline, suggesting their games could stave off memory loss, dementia, and even Alzheimer’s disease. But Lumosity simply did not have the science to back up its ads.”

For those unfamiliar, Lumosity launched in 2007 and had over 50 titles to its name, all of which claim to improve cognitive skills such as your attention and memory. The games are subscription based where you can play it on the web or via mobile apps, costing anywhere between $5-$15 a month. Users who subscribed on an auto-renewable basis will be notified and will be given an easy way to cancel their subscription.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Cellphones, Gaming
Tags: Apps, ftc, Legal, Social Hit