Privacy

YouTube Kids: Infomercials As Toddler Fodder?

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>When YouTube Kids launched in February, Google heralded the app as “the first Google product built from the ground up with little ones in mind.” The Internet giant said its new app would make it safer and easier for young children to find family-friendly videos on their parents’ smartphones.</p>

Google Under Fire For YouTube Kids App

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<h2>Consumer groups are outraged about the way that Google's new YouTube Kids app advertises to children.</h2> <p><img alt="youtube kids app" border="0" height="439" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/150407074150-youtube-kids-app-780x439.jpg" width="780" /></p> <p>The groups are charging the new app's videos intermix entertainment and commercial content in a way that is deceptive -- and would not be permitted on broadcast or cable television. They are asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether YouTube Kids violates federal law.</p>

Consumer Groups Claim YouTube Kids App ‘Deceptive’

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A coalition of consumer and child advocacy groups asked US regulators Tuesday to investigate Google's new YouTube app for children, claiming it inappropriately delivers too much advertising to young viewers.</p> <p>The videos on YouTube Kids "intermix commercial and other content in ways that are deceptive and unfair to children and would not be permitted to be shown on broadcast or cable television," said a letter to the Federal Trade Commission from nine organizations.</p>

YouTube Kids App Blasted as ‘Deceptive’ by Consumer Groups

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a data-tag="google" href="http://variety.com/t/google/" id="auto-tag_google">Google</a>’s <a data-tag="youtube" href="http://variety.com/t/youtube/" id="auto-tag_youtube">YouTube</a> Kids app, which offers a walled garden of content aimed at the 5-and-under set, is the target of a coalition of consumer groups urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the service as a potential violation of rules about advertising to children.</p>

YouTube Kids Runs Ads That Bould Be Illegal on Television, Say Consumer Groups in a Federal Complaint

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>For decades, advertising to children on television has been held to tougher rules than commercials for adults. Federal regulators have long been concerned that kids are more vulnerable to marketing and have a tougher time distinguishing between an ad and a show.</p>

Consumer Groups Say YouTube Kids App Is Deceiving

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>WASHINGTON -- The new YouTube Kids mobile app targets young children with unfair and deceptive advertising and should be investigated, a group of consumer advocates told the Federal Trade Commission in a letter Tuesday.</p> <p>Google introduced the app in February as a "safer" place for kids to explore videos because it was restricted to "family-focused content."</p>

FTC To Review Complaint That YouTube Kids Over-Advertises To Children

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday said it will review complaints by consumer groups that YouTube Kids is a hyper-commercial app with junk food and toy ads flooding the video service.</p> <p>Several consumer advocacy groups filed a complaint with the commission saying YouTube's free app that launched in February contains too many ads that young children can't distinguish from entertainment. On television, federal rules keep advertising to a minimum on children's programs but on the app and others like it, the groups say those rules are disregarded.</p>

Consumer Groups Slam Google’s YouTube Kids App

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<h3 itemprop="alternativeHeadline">The app exploits vulnerable children and violates long-standing media practices, the groups charge</h3> <p>  <div class="entry" itemprop="articleBody"> <figure class="captioned_image large aligncenter"><img alt="Photo" class="large aligncenter" data-id="15134" src="https://consumeraffairs.global.ssl.fastly.net/files/cache/news/youtube-kids-logo_large.jpg" style="undefined" /> <figcaption class="caption">.</figcaption> </figure>

Consumer Watchdog: Google’s YouTube Kids Should Follow Children TV Ad Rules

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Broadcast TV and the Internet video have long played by different rules. But when it comes to programming to children, a group of privacy and consumer advocates think it is time for a common set of guidelines.</p> <p>“Google’s YouTube Kids should play by the same rules as broadcasters,” said John Simpson, director of the Consumer Watchdog Privacy Project during a press conference Tuesday.</p>

YouTube Kids App Under Fire for Advertising to Kids

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>For decades, the Federal Trade Commission has been regulating television advertising with special attention to anything perceived to target the vulnerable minds of America’s youth.

Privacy Groups Seek Investigation of Google’s YouTube Kids App

April 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google’s 6-week-old foray into video for preschoolers provides a seductive and seamless mix of kid-friendly fun and advertising, child advocates charged Tuesday as they called for a federal investigation of YouTube Kids.</p> <p>In a 12-page letter, 11 organizations that advocate for children and consumers asked the Federal Trade Commission to probe the free Web application.</p>

How Much Influence Does Google Have in Washington?

April 5, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="no-ant" data-spx-slot="1">Like many powerful tech companies, Google spends millions every year on lobbying to extend its influence to Washington. Consumer Watchdog reported in January that Google spent a record $16.83 million on <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease/google-spends-record-1683-million-2014-lobbying-topping-15-tech-and-communications-compa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lobbying federal regulators and lawmakers</a> in 2014, compared with $14.06 million in 2013, a 20% increase. Microsoft, which used to regularly outspend Google, spent only about&nbsp