The Free and Easy Sell - how much personal information teenagers would reveal for marketing surveys

Girls' Life, Oct, 2000

Would you tell a total stranger your dad downs a beer or two on Friday nights? How about spilling secrets on what kind of VISA tab your mom has run up? Most likely, you would never sell out your parents and their personal habits. But, what if a "free gift" were involved? A recent survey of 304 kids done by the Annenberg Public Policy Center says 13- to 17-year-olds will give marketers private info over the Net if there's promise of a free gift.

Thirty-five percent of older adolescents were willing to answer questions about their family's religious practices, 31 percent would tell whether Mom or Dad ever speeds. and 49 percent would gladly answer questions about household political discussions. Is nothing sacred anymore? Even though sites are prohibited by law from asking kids under 13 any personal info, it pays to read the privacy policies on all Web sites. Many sites ask personal information to track you or to attract advertisers. While we all love free gifts, personal privacy is worth a whole lot more.