The new YouTube Kids mobile app targets young children with unfair and deceptive advertising and should be investigated, a group of consumer advocates told the Federal Trade Commission in a letter Tuesday.
Google introduced the app in February as a "safer" place for kids to explore videos because it was restricted to "family-focused content."
But the consumer activists say the app is so stuffed with advertisements and product placements that it's hard to tell the difference between entertainment and commercials. One example is a 7-minute video of Disney's "Frozen" characters who appear as dolls inside a toy McDonald's, eating ice cream and drinking Sprite.
The activists say digital media should be subject to the same rules as television, which limits commercial content on kids' programming.
"As a consumer, you should have the right to know who is trying to persuade you," said Angela Campbell with the Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown Law, who provided legal counsel to the coalition.
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In young children especially, "it takes unfair advantage of their trusting nature and lack of experience," she added.
YouTube released a statement Monday saying: "When developing YouTube Kids, we consulted with numerous partners and child advocacy and privacy groups. We are always open to feedback on ways to improve the app."
Since its inception in 2005, YouTube has become the world's most popular online video site, with more than 1 billion users.
