Reporter Scott Reynolds used examples from the recent online-regulation documentary "Traffic Control," which revealed through a series of interviews that teenagers are mimicking what they see by filming their own adult content. Both Reynolds and "Traffic Control" director Bryan Hall say Congress must act to prevent "harming" minors by making adult content easily available.
Bryan Wickens of ROCK — Reclaim Our Culture Kentuckiana — said parents he knows are shocked to see what their kids are viewing on their phones, and may not realize what their kids' cellphones are capable of.
Rick Louis, manager of communications and government affairs at ASACP, told XBIZ that ASACP encourages adult companies to do their part, partnering with mobile service providers — who offer "responsible options" for parents and kids — and using ASACP's RTA "Restricted to Adults" labeling system.
However, Louis emphasized that the responsibility most importantly falls on parents educating themselves and their children about the issue.
"Since so many cellphones now offer Internet access, online child safety rules that make sense at home naturally apply to mobile devices as well," Louis said. "But parental controls only work as a partnership between technology providers and parents, so parents need to be involved and aware. Real online child safety begins when parents make active choices about their kids’ Internet and wireless access, and communicate with their kids about those choices."