Tech Targets Tweens

A short CNET article observes, "Nearly half of kids age 8 to 12 years old own cell phones in the U.S. ... 46 percent of the 20 million young consumers known as 'tweens' are using mobile phones. On average kids get their first cell phone between the ages of 10 and 11 years old. About 55 percent of tweens, who own cell phones, send text messages and 21 percent download ringtones."

The article, by the way, is titled, "Mobile carriers see opportunity in 'tween' market."

I've written about kids and cell phones before, but I need to add that I find it disturbing that multi-million dollar companies are specifically targeting the "tween" demographic with gadgetry.

There's something wrong about pushing and marketing tech to children, as though these are gadgets they cannot live without. We are encouraging a tech generation without applying much if any analysis and understanding to the philosophical implications.

As it is, adults have a hard enough time balancing their lives with technology, but children have even less discernment in relation to gadgetry.

And don't get me started on text messaging as a contributing factor to the decline of articulate communication skills.