A nine-year-old content creator has inadvertently generated a $118,000 advertising bill after using his father’s saved corporate credit card details to promote his gaming videos. The incident, which has led to the permanent suspension of the YouTube channel
The channel, which featured gameplay footage from titles such as Roblox and Minecraft, was established by Sarkisyan to support his son’s interest in gaming. According to the father, the situation began when the child expressed frustration over low viewership numbers. In an attempt to assist, Sarkisyan initially set up a modest $20 promotional campaign to boost traffic to one of his son's videos.
Unauthorized Spending and Corporate Oversight
The financial escalation occurred because the company credit card used for the initial $20 promotion remained saved within the account settings. Sarkisyan, a marketing professional, admitted that he failed to remove the payment information, leaving it accessible when his son later interacted with the platform. The child, unaware of the financial implications of the digital transactions, continued to use the saved payment method to fund further promotional campaigns for his content.
The unauthorized spending was only discovered when Sarkisyan was called to a meeting with his company’s management and finance department. During the review of corporate expenditures, officials identified $118,000 in advertising costs accrued over a three-week period. These funds were directed toward promoting videos featuring Minecraft and Roblox gameplay, which collectively garnered approximately 200,000 views.
Account Closure and Parental Accountability
In his explanatory video, Sarkisyan took full responsibility for the oversight, acknowledging that he had not considered the risks of leaving corporate payment details on a device accessible to his son. He emphasized that the child did not understand the nature of the transactions or the magnitude of the costs involved.
As a result of the incident, the Mighty Mike Plays channel has been shut down. While Sarkisyan noted that his son will face consequences for the unauthorized use of the card, he stated that he has not yet determined the specific nature of the disciplinary measures. The father’s public disclosure serves as a cautionary account of the risks associated with saved payment credentials on devices used by minors.
