It's deja vu all over again. Disney
The new Disney teen phone service, offered in conjunction with Sprint Nextel
The new Disney phone will let parents actually track their kids' coordinates, using their own cell phones or the Internet. It's a smart move, given parents' fears of child abductions -- not to mention the simple desire to ensure that kids aren't playing hooky or spending that "sleepover with a friend" at an all-night dance party instead. (Then again, if you remember your own teenage years, the thought of being tracked may make you shudder.)
Despite the "Big Brother" element, it's really not surprising that giving parents tighter control over their kids is becoming big business. For example, cable companies like Comcast
As the many ways we communicate, work, and play change, it's no surprise that many parents have a healthy fear of some of the hazards facing their children. But I think the Disney phone's GPS features are a bit too "Big Brother." Should parents really put tracking devices on their kids, the same way they'd install a LoJack
Alyce Lomax does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned.