Net Marketing Towards Children

For years now the internet has been a tool for business, correspondence and government information but has slowly been rolled to the younger generations who have made it the dynamic place it is. The newest group to enter onto the internet is the absolute youngsters kids younger than 13 years of age. I myself have a cousin she is 5 but has been using the internet since the age of 3. My friend who is a
Computer Programmer, he works day and night on computers his daughter is 3, she has an Ipad and knows how to fully function it, to many adults amazement she also downloads apps and updates them or if she comes to a wall she will come ask for help. But this is our future we hear stories about children as young as 11 creating amazing things but also many young children getting kidnapped and as we previously covered many getting sexually assaulted due to their parents negligence or other questionable reasons finding themselves on chat rooms with people of evil intent or interacting with people who conceal their identity to take advantage of children.

The Biggest thing going on right now is the marketing for children, when they see something which a peer is playing with it looks cool enough they want it. Go on any children's  website the games are sponsored by food company's toy company's etc. Children are also asked to fill out information on these game website's, but many websites aren't the most reliable or children safe which could be an issue unto its own. But many websites may claim to offer prizes or cash based on the childrens interest in a particular game or food in which the child will be tempted may go to a unknowing parent and acquire information from them which could particularly put the child and his family at risk of identity theft of the child or the parent if the wrong information is given away.

 Many websites collect data of visitation and usage, cookies are often placed on the target computer at which children are targeted with the proper toy or message at which many times children will take a parents credit card and purchase things. As it is an ever growing phenomena kids under 13 are finding it cool to be on Facebook and other sites which they arent supposed to be approaching. Congress in 1998 passed the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) which was placed in effect in 2000, this act covers the sites aimed specifically at children and collect their information, but also sites which can make information collected on children public. They have given some guidelines or requirements to children which cater to the under 13 group which have been compiled on a privacy rights website 

COPPA requires that web sites and online services directed to children under age 13 must:

• Post a clearly written privacy policy with links to the notice provided on the home page and at each area where the site or online service collects personal information from children.

• Describe the kinds of information collected from children, for example, name, address, e-mail address, hobbies, and age. (Note: This requirement applies to all information, not just “personal information.”)

• Explain how the information is collected – whether directly from the child and/or behind the scenes through ”cookies.” (explained below)

• Explain how the web site operator uses the personal information, such as marketing to the child or notifying contest participants, and whether it is disclosed to third parties.

• Provide parents with contact information – address, phone number, and e-mail address – for all operators collecting or maintaining children’s personal information.

• Obtain parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information about a child.

• Provide parents with the ability to review, correct, and delete information about their children collected by such services.

• Maintain reasonable procedures “to protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of personal information collected from children.”

   https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs21-children.htm

These are just a few Marketing privacy concerns which specifically deal with children, such as my cousins or nieces and nephews playing games online or even researching for their homework they are being targeted and pried away from their purpose for companies pursuits which deal with marketing and product creation and testing. So people need to pay attention to their children's net usage website visits up until the parents believe the child is mature or safe enough to navigate themselves.