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Letter to Congress: Kids/Cell Phones Bad Combination

Consumer advocacy group Commercial Alert wants Congress to draft legislation that will handle the privacy, education, and health and safety implications of cell phone use by children, before cell phones are in classrooms, playrooms, and children’s bedrooms, writes AdAge. A letter to Senate and House Commerce Committees claims the telecommunications industry is targeting young children as its next growth market. The letter cited Disney, Wherify and Firefly Mobile, among others, as companies reaching out directly to children, along with toymaker Mattel for its Barbie-brand mobile phone.

Despite Commercial Alerts’ assertion that the wireless industry wants to “use children as conduits to their parents’ wallets,” the actual number of young children who have cell phones is unknown. The NDP Group says 22 percent of 9- to 11-year-olds have cell phones, while NOP Worldwide says 14 percent of 10- and 11-year-olds have phones. Mobile is, however, reported to be the fastest-growing media platform.

The Wireless Association says it is up to parents to monitor children’s cell phone use.

What is really at issue is unclear from the letter: the group may be more concerned about whether children should own cell phones at all (“Does anyone really believe that kids today lack sufficient distractions…?”) than about future advertising to children via the phones.