Most parents feel like ATMs, dishing out cash at their teenagers' whims, but cash just doesn't cut it in the online world.
Online merchants can't reap the benefits of merchandise-happy teens, but challenges are merely opportunities in disguise. Here are five teenage-friendly online payment options to consider promoting.
PayPal Student Account
With full visibility into teen spending, permissions and automated alerts, parents can keep their kids track with PayPal's Student Account. PayPal's service comes with free transfers so they can go online or use their mobile phones to load teens' cards. The Student Card is accepted wherever Debit MasterCard is accepted. Card holders must be 13 years old or older.
BillMyParents
This MasterCard helps parents track, load or even lock cash from wherever they are. Plus, since the BillMyParents (BMP) is prepaid, teens don't run the risk of overspending. There is no credit risk to either the teen or parent, it keeps everyone's personal information secure and it's safe to use for online purchases.
SpendSmart
What's neat about the SpendSmart card is that parents can manage multiple accounts for multiple teens. There is also an app for both iPhone and Android so parents can keep up with their teens' balances and purchases.
TheGiftCardCafe.com
Parents not comfortable with the idea of handing their teenager a credit card (even if it's prepaid) can turn to gift certificates or gift cards to help their kids buy online. TheGiftCardCafe.com makes it easy for business owners to start selling gift cards and instant gift certificates online by providing a white label gift certificate shopping cart system.
Virtual Piggy
More than 80 teen-friendly merchants have signed up with Virtual Piggy to empower youth to spend online with pre-allotted funds from their parents. The way it works is parents sign up for an account and customize child accounts and preferences. The kid then shops at their favorite store and checks out using the Virtual Piggy button.
