UK "teen deterrent device" becomes hot new US cell ringtone

**byzantium** · 04-24-2009 08:45 PM

This was a video on Yahoo's site, so there's no link. A couple years ago, I read a BBC article about a new device that was being used in the UK to deter teens from loitering near minimarts and such. It emits a high, annoying tone that only those under 25 can supposedly hear. It can actually cause nausea in some kids. The story featured adults complaining that the new device was part of a campaign to "demonize young people". So I thought, well that's interesting, but it will never be done in the US since the civil libertarians will jump all over it.

Well, now it's finally come to the US. But...it's NOT as a deterrent. Instead, teens use it as a cell phone ringtone so that they can get text messages in class without the teachers knowing. I'd like to know who the genius was who took a device meant to drive away teens and instead sold it to them as a super secret ringtone! Talk about out of the box thinking! That is why America continues to outrun the world-we think out of the box. In the UK, the tone was thought of as a way to stop "hoodies" (young miscreants). In the US, it became the latest way to hide your cell from your teachers. At $1.99 a pop, it certainly makes more cash than a $10k or so antiloitering system!

**SophieM** · 04-25-2009 03:18 AM

Do they not have "silent" mode on phones in the US?

**byzantium** · 04-25-2009 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by SophieM

Do they not have "silent" mode on phones in the US?

You mean what we call "vibrate"? Yeah, but you can literally hear it vibrating. Especially in a quiet setting like a school classroom. It makes a very audible BUZZZZ. The secret ringtone is supposed to solve the buzz problem. Americans are obsessed with mobile phones, we are on them constantly, even when interacting with store clerks. Teens are the worst, they will send text messages in class instead of paying attention.