Have you recently downloaded Lumosity for yourself or for the elderly in your home? Recent allegations have indicated that the app does not live up to its expectation and false advertising was used.
Luminosity is an app that claims it could boost brain power and mental performance at work or in school. It also boasts that it can prevent the onset of the mental disorder - dementia. Currently, the company behind the app, Lumos Labs, is in a state of critical mess being sued allegedly for false advertising.
The brain game developer have been accused of lying that the app could help in mental performance.
Downloading the app requires a monthly membership fine of $15. A user can also opt for a lifetime subscription worth $300. The membership allows the users to access Lumos Labs' games and brain performance enhancing apps such as Lumosity.
However, the Federal Trade Commission does not believe the advertising being made by the company. For any products claiming to prevent or improve mental health related performances, the product has to be critically tested and approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA must approve the product if the company claims the app prevents the onset of dementia and other mental disorders, illnesses or performance and cognitive concerns. The FTC has called the company out for its false advertising and claims they have exaggerated the products features.
Lumos Labs is now required to shell out $2 million as the federal allegation fine and requires the company to contact all subscribers who registered between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2014 to cancel their payment plan for Lumosity, according to reports
This is a painful financial stab at the company but one the FTC believes they have to do. Jessica Rich, FTC Director for Consumer Protection had this to say:
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.
