Report shows mobile marketeers targeting under-10s

Interesting or disturbing ... guess it's the way you look at it. But a study by a Sydney university has found the age at which children are becoming first-time mobile users is dropping.

Now as a parent and a mobile-geek, I can see both sides of the coin here.

But when you really look at it, what does a 9 year old need a mobile phone for? If it's the need for a hand-held device that entertains, get them a LeapFrog or something - geez my 7 year old loves playing games on my iriver u10! A mate of mine has even used his Nokia N70 as a portable video unit for his kids - loading full quality (albeit well compressed) episodes of the Simpsons onto it!

It's very interesting to see how the marketing companies are pitching the phone really as an entertainment device only to this age segment. Then when the mobile-kids get into their teens, they start spending up to $600 / month on phone bills.

I don't mind young kids entertaining themselves with hand-held units / game devices, but perhaps the mobile phone ain't the device to do it. That's just Mr Dad talking.