Texting technology targets tiny tots

How young is too young for texting?

My teenage son has an iPhone 3G. Maybe we’ve spoiled him, but he does use the technology: he checks and updates our shared family calendar, he texts with his parents and friends, and he checks email. Sure, he plays games and listens to music too, but imho a responsible, well-behaved high-school student is old enough to have that type of technology.

According to a story in today’s New York Times, companies are targeting younger and younger children with mobile communications technology. I had no idea about devices described in, “They’re Old Enough to Text. Now What?” like the Leapfrog Text and Learn device — a faux BlackBerry that’s a bit more modern than the classic Fisher-Price telephone.

To quote the story, interviewing a blogger, Cat Schwartz,

When are children ready to text? Ms. Schwartz has seen children as young as 6 with their own phones and says that texting is popular with youngsters because it allows them to keep in touch anywhere — from a movie theater, the back seat of the car or the dinner table (though you may take issue with that).

Amazing!