Carriers Must Act to Stop Children from Accessing Adult Content

Yankee Group has recommended that wireless carriers take action in 2005 to protect minors from adult content and preempt the regulatory assault. The issue of wireless adult content has reached heightened importance as the market--estimated to grow to US$192 million by 2009--exposes more children to indecent material, making it only a mater of time before parental outrage reaches the FCC. The wireless industry, however, may not like the FCC's actions. The filtering schemes it imposes may be very costly, especially if states get involved and carriers are forced to deploy multiple solutions. The FCC and the industry widely recognize that self-regulation is the preferred route.

To influence US regulatory decisions and take social responsibility, Yankee Group is advising wireless carriers to establish a road map for self-regulation of adult content through effective, affordable, service-enabling technology. When establishing this strategic road map, wireless carriers must first understand that they cannot offer adult content without offering a parental control solution. In the recent report, Yankee Group recommended several solutions for carriers, including:

-- Consider turning off the wireless web as the parental control solution. Although this may limit the mobile content exposure to children, it also decreases revenue potential for carriers.

-- Create a child profile, which offers comprehensive protection that is easy for the guardian to administer.

In addition to these technological approaches to blocking children's access to adult content, carriers must keep the following business perspectives in mind:

-- A small investment now in a filter or parental control solution is a worthwhile investment when measured against the risk of invasive, costly regulations.

-- Expect at least one US carrier to claim leadership in moving forward on addressing this issue.

Marrying the technology and business perspectives will create the maximum effect on carriers' approach in addressing the concern of protecting minors from adult content.

"How wireless carriers choose to respond to this growing industry concern will dictate the impact of their role with the government and within the industry," said Adam Zawel, Yankee Group senior analyst. "With solid, strategic investment in self-regulation, wireless carriers can achieve dual benefit of protecting minors from adult content while safely profiting from the opportunity."

Posted to the site on 14th June 2005