Wireless Carriers Empowering Parents

Despite the complaints of several wireless carriers, it looks the industry is beginning to realize that they need to provide parents with tools to manage their children's access to online content.  On November 8, the CTIA, one voice for the wireless industry , announced  “Wireless Content Guidelines” for wireless carriers: 

The Guidelines reflect the carriers’ pledge not to offer any Restricted Content until they have provided controls to allow parents to restrict access to this type of content.

“Parents must ultimately decide what materials are most suitable for their children, and wireless carriers participating in this important measure are committed to providing parents with the necessary tools to do so,” said Largent.

A second phase of the industry’s Wireless Content Guidelines initiative will be for carriers to develop and implement Internet Content Access Control technologies that will enable wireless account holders to block access to the internet entirely or provide tools to block access to specific websites that consumers might consider inappropriate. Carriers will independently implement internet access control tools.

Although carriers have no control over content generally available on the Internet, this important step is intended to give consumers, particularly parents, the ability to limit what Internet content can be accessed through their family’s wireless devices.  Carriers are aggressively researching technological solutions and implementation of controls will vary according to each carrier’s unique business plans and technological capabilities. In the interim, consumers may choose individually whether or not to purchase wireless Internet service.

This is a very important and responsible step, given the industry's position last spring/summer, when they questioned why I included web-enabled cellphones within the scope of HB260.

See also
CNET News.com: Wireless carriers take aim at adult content

Comments

[Reach Upward]

I'm glad the industry is taking responsibility, but it's also a good business decision. Moms and Dads foot the bill for their kids' wireless gadgets, and some will opt out if they consider a gadget too risky. The industry wants to gain enough trust to get that business.

We face this same issue every time a new type of consumer media technology appears. Only, it used to happen once or twice per decade. Now parents have to try to keep up with multiple developments every year, and that's sometimes difficult, especially for folks that aren't techno-geeks.