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Consumer Groups Bemoan Google's "Deceptive" Ads for Kids In FTC Complaint
Mark Wilson writes A number of consumer groups have filed a complaint with the FTC suggesting that Google is targeting children with 'unfair and deceptive' ads in YouTube Kids for Android and iOS. A letter signed by Children Now, Consumer Watchdog, Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, and others says that ads are displayed in a way that would not be permitted on broadcast or cable television. The letter makes three main complaints about the app. The first suggests that Google mixes programming and ads, while another says that the relationship between Google and the manufacturers of advertised products is not clear. The groups ask for the FTC to take action to stop the advertisements. Also covered by The Verge and VentureBeat; here's the complaint letter.
Hello, Google is all about targeted ads. Its how it makes most of its money. Gee, Parents, you have no problem buying your young kids smartphones. Then complain about everything that the kids are subjected too with them. From over buying apps, to content issues, and now ad's targeting them. All I can say is duh.
Mobile is obviously the new format for ads and no matter what OS you are using Android, IOS or something else. The ad revenue stream is most important.
No doubt this kind of litigation will be tied up in courts for years, wasting tons of money complaining rather then simply not participating in this kind of ad marketing. I question how many kids need a smartphone? In general I agree that some ads are not appropriate for some age groups. But I also question if many of these ads are simply placed within apps that are also inappropriate for that age group? Are the ads simply being targeted correctly and its the end user who should not have access to that app?