{"id":8887,"date":"2018-09-05T11:49:02","date_gmt":"2018-09-05T10:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/?p=8887"},"modified":"2022-03-18T05:17:11","modified_gmt":"2022-03-18T05:17:11","slug":"how-advertisers-target-your-teens-smartphone-and-how-to-cope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/blog\/how-advertisers-target-your-teens-smartphone-and-how-to-cope\/","title":{"rendered":"How Advertisers Target Your Teen’s Smartphone and How to Cope"},"content":{"rendered":"

How Advertisers Are Reaching Teens and Tweens<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Advertisers know how important smartphones are to teens and tweens.<\/p><\/div>\n

Traditional commercials are getting easier to avoid all of the time, so brands have to be creative about how they reach out to teens. In many cases, they do that through social media. Sites like YouTube and Snapchat are prime territory for reaching teens and tweens. These popular apps are widely used by this age group, and sometimes it can be tough to tell what\u2019s an ad and what\u2019s entertainment. Frequently, the two are mixed.<\/p>\n

For example, some brands partner with popular YouTube personalities, called influencers, to promote their brands. This means that a YouTube celebrity that your child watches for fashion tips, gaming commentary, or humor \u2013 possibly a teen or tween like themselves \u2013 may also be getting paid to pitch a particular brand of shoes or the latest game console. On Snapchat, brands release their own filters for users to apply to their photos.<\/p>\n

Some brands even offer their own apps for kids to shop with. Amazon now offers teen accounts for children as young as 13. Brands like Build-A-Bear and Victoria\u2019s Secret Pink offer games for teens to play on their shopping apps.<\/p>\n

Privacy and Data Collection<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brands are also watching your teen\u2019s movements through their various apps and online activities. Social media and gaming sites often sell or share user data with outside companies. This gives advertisers the information that they need to make targeted ads. If your child expresses interest in buying new sneakers on one site, they may see ads for sneakers on the next couple of sites that they visit.<\/p>\n

Children under 13 are protected somewhat from data collection efforts by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). But children 13 and older are fair game for data collection and targeted advertising. And many sites that require users to be 13 or older to make an account don\u2019t do anything to verify the ages of their users. Tweens can make accounts on these sites by simply checking a box that says they\u2019re 13 or over, even if they aren\u2019t, and there\u2019s nothing to stop advertisers tracking those children\u2019s online activities in order to target them with ads.<\/p>\n

What Parents Should Do<\/strong><\/p>\n

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