September 5, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Common Sense Media CEO James Steyer today released the following statement of support for AT&T’s new cell phone service, which gives parents control over the amount of time their kids can spend texting and talking.

“This looks like a win-win situation for both parents and AT&T, and it reflects a healthy dose of common sense. With the new service, parents will be able to more effectively manage their kids’ cell phone use, which is an increasingly large part of their overall media diet. It’s a smart business move for AT&T as well. The company has opened the door to reaching hundreds of thousands of families with teens whose parents may have been hesitant to give them an unrestricted cell-phone plan.

“It’s important for companies in this area to listen to their customers and understand the struggle that millions of parents face every day when it comes to managing the massive amount of media and technology in kids’ lives. Kids are spending 45 hours a week with various forms of media, including cell phones – that’s more time than they spend in school or with their parents. We're living in a 24/7 media world, and it's going to take actions like this from the media and technology industries to help parents make smart, responsible media choices for their kids.”