Online Advertising Unlike television advertising and telephone solicitation, online advertising is relatively unregulated. Advertising and marketing information can be found throughout the Internet. Many advertisers consider children a prime target since they are often the first family member to go online. Research has shown that some online advertisers target children as young as four. Parents can help their children by explaining how online advertising works and what its goal is, and helping children find positive, noncommercial sites to browse.
Parents can also explore blocking out certain types of commercial interaction.
Another way to help prevent online advertising from adversely affecting your child is to contact the advertiser. Most companies care very deeply about what their customers think. Parents can call, e-mail or write companies that they believe are overstepping the bounds of appropriate online advertising. Parents can also call or write their representative in Congress or the Federal Trade Commission to complain about online advertising. Safety on the Information Superhighway Because you are sitting alone at your computer you may assume that your actions, whether researching a topic or e-mailing a friend, are anonymous.