This article states that 7% of children have an e-mail address by the age of 2. 5% of children have a social media profile by that age.
So my question to the class: Is there an age below which it is unethical to use social media to market products and services to children? Certainly pushing alcohol or tobacco on 10 years olds would cross a line for most of us. But, for example, should toy manufacturers be allowed to push the hot toys of the season on facebook and twitter, going directly to kids?
This is an interesting question, and what I think makes it really complicated is that it is hard to define what marketing even means. Is becoming a fan of a product on Facebook 'marketing'? and if it is, what would happen if you restricted whether young kids can do it? My guess is that they would find a way around it.
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