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Article Information:
Title:
“It does my head in … buy it, buy it, buy it!” The commercialisation of UK children's web sites
Author(s):
Agnes Nairn
Journal:
Young Consumers: Insight and Ideas for Responsible Marketers
Year:
2008
Volume:
Issue:
Page:
239 - 253
DOI:
10.1108/17473610810920461
Publisher:
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Acknowledgements:
Received June 2008, Revised August 2008, Accepted August 2008. This paper is based on a research project “Fair game? Assessing commercial activity on children's favourite web sites and online environments” carried out by the author in conjunction with ChildNet International and the National Consumer Council. The project report is available at www.ncc.org.uk/nccpdf/poldocs/NCC182rr_fair_game.pdf
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Abstract:
Purpose – Against a background of social concern about the commercialisation of childhood, the purpose of the paper is to analyse the commercial activity on the favourite web sites of UK children and report the views of a sample of parents and children.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the theory underpinning current debate over risks to children from online commercialism and summarises the key provisions laid out in current international regulatory guidelines. The broad principles of protection from harm and deception are identified. This review is used to frame a research design encompassing web site observation and qualitative data collection from children and parents.
Findings – A great deal of advertising is poorly labelled and deceptively integrated into content. Most sites visited by children are created for an adult audience which means 25 percent of adverts were for dating, gambling, loans, surgery and age-restricted products. There was also evidence of pester power, dubious “free” offers and incitement to make impulse purchases using mobile phone credit.
Research limitations/implications – Surveys of commercial activity on children's web sites must be ongoing as technology, advertising techniques and regulation change at a fast pace.
Practical implications – Companies which attract a child audience (inadvertently or not) should revise their strategy for selling advertising space. Advertisers should review potentially deceptive techniques such as advergames, product placements and embedded commercial content. “Wish lists” should be reviewed in the light of guidelines on pester power. Online payment methods available to children should be reviewed.
Originality/value – This is one of the first overall assessments of the commercial content of UK children's web sites.
Keywords:
Advertising,
Children (age groups),
Internet,
Regulation
Article Type:
Research paper
References:
Article URL:
www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/17473610810920461