More Than Conversation with Cell Phones
© 2010 Teresa Cook
By the age of twelve, three-fourths of children in the United States have
their own mobile phone. And these little telecommunicators are getting younger
every year. In 2008, the average age children received their first phone was
10.1. In 2009, it dropped to 9.7. Despite the popularity of cell phones among
children, less than half of parents take advantage of additional parental
controls offered by service
providers.1
Cell phones are both a blessing and a curse for parents. They allow us to keep
tabs on our children and ease our minds that they can contact us in an
emergency. However, some parents do not realize the accompanying danger. Cell
phones can open another portal for pornography to reach our kids.
With the development of Internet-capable phones, a whole new market
opened for pornography distribution. By 2005, cell phone porn had
already developed into a big business overseas. Global sales hit $1
billion that year, up 175% from the previous year.2
The U.S. lagged behind other countries, with fear of consumer backlash
holding domestic cell companies back. No more. One research firm
predicted the U.S. mobile porn market could reach as high as $1.5 billion
in 2009.
3 Sadly, the development of parental controls in
compliance with wireless content
guidelines issued
by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association removed the last
restraints on cell porn distribution in the U.S. By staying within
recommended limits, companies can now deliver porn and leave
full responsibility of protecting children to their parents.
4
Now that the Internet is available on cell phones, users can access
pornography anywhere, anytime. And many believe the chance of their
activities being detected decreases with the use of cell phones which
tend to be more private and personal than computers.5 Adult
entertainment companies are working tirelessly to make viewing porn via
cell phones faster, easier, and cheaper. The same technology offered
to adults sits in the pockets of many children.6
Aside from the reactionary measure of not giving our children phones, how can
we protect them from cell
porn?
- Filter content: All the major carriers provide blocking and
filtering capabilities at different levels and costs, from free to $10 per
month. The nonprofit
Wireless Foundation provides links to compare
these companies' features.
- Protest: When Telus, Canada's second largest wireless operator,
tried to quietly instigate porn service in 2007, the New York Times
spotlighted the move, and subscribers raised a ruckus. The company quickly
reversed its decision.7 Phone companies do listen to their
customers.
- Talk to your kids: As with any other medium, children get around
even the most diligent of porn protection. That's why good relationships and
face-to-face conversations are the most effective means of protecting your
child from cell phone pornography. Use the other articles on this site, such
as
"
The Porn Talk",
"What
I Wish I'd Known", and
"Sexting
", to initiate discussion of porn issues. You can also use the
Wireless Foundation's
Family Cell Phone Agreement to seal your mutual understanding.
- Turn Internet off: You can always do what we did and instruct
the company to turn Internet features off. This does not disable text
messaging and can provide considerable savings on upload and download
fees.
Today's ever-changing world demands that parents remain vigilant and
wise. Using a cell phone is not
child's play.
