Radio On The Bus w/ Commericals

[medeanj]

I am not sending my kids on the bus until they are in HS but I was alarmed when I read this from the New York Times.

As if we had to deal with the Channel One fiasco for free equipment, Bus Radio is boasting that beginning next year a GPS installed on a bus would inform the parent/child via email or text messaging that the bus is 10 minutes away from their house! Pretty neat technology, but still too invasive for my taste.

Not to mention, who know whether the music selection is pushed by the record industries, never mind the commercials that kids are forced to hear.

Any thoughts?

[CarrieMF]

It sounds pretty tame to me. Our bus driver used to play the regular radio for us. Kids quickly learn to tune out commercials. 4 minutes of commecials in 1 hour is not bad. With the PSAs it is 16 30second blips.

If they didn't have the commercials than the parents would most likely end up paying for the service through fundraising or higher taxes.

Now the GPS to alert kids that their stop is 10minutes away, IMO if they're old enough to have a phone to get the text/email they're old enough to realize their stop is coming up. From what I read it isn't going to the parents but the kids on the bus.

[Belleweather]

I'm very against commercials aimed at kids, but compared to the alternative I think I'd be for what they're describing in the article.

When I was a kid we'd listen to the local Top 40, Metal or Rap station depending on who was driving the bus. FAR Raunchier and inappropriate than something that is at least geared to teens. Not to mention the one bus driver I had for a whole year who listened to Rush Limbaugh on the way home every freakin' day for all of 6th grade...

[oceanbaby]

I think that's horrific. Kids don't tune out commercials - just because they're not actively listening doesn't mean there is no impact. Advertisers wouldn't be paying to have the commercials targeted at kids if there wasn't a payoff. I would no way no how allow this for my kids. I don't allow them to watch commercials on tv, and I certainly wouldn't allow them to be held captive on the school bus. Blech.

[TCMoulton]

Originally Posted by CarrieMF

Now the GPS to alert kids that their stop is 10minutes away, IMO if they're old enough to have a phone to get the text/email they're old enough to realize their stop is coming up. From what I read it isn't going to the parents but the kids on the bus.

Actually I read that to mean that they would receive a message as to when the bus would be 10 minutes from picking them up in the morning - quite helpful. As to commercials, it doesn't really bother me either, most kids will probably be talking to friends or listening to their own iPod.

[straighthaircurly]

As a parent, I have come to realize that commercials are a part of our lives, like it or not. While I think they have absolutely no business being in a classroom, I would not be bothered by them on a bus. I am already teaching my 4 year old about the techniques used in commercials to convince you to buy. He already can distinguish between need and want and tricks that are used to blur the lines. However, a classroom is for learning and unless the teachers are using commercials to teach about the tricks used in advertising, the ads have no business being there.