Disney launched its “family mobile phone service” in the United States last Tuesday. This service aims to regulate mobile phone usage by children. With this, parents will be able to choose when, how long and to whom their children talk on their cell phones.

An extract from this report on CNET News:

Disney Mobile, which is carried in the United States by Sprint Nextel, also blocks kids from using their phones until they respond to messages that parents have flagged as urgent, and has a built-in satellite tracking feature to locate the cell phone.

Individual service plans for a single line start at $39.99 per month up to $169.99 per month.

Family plans, which include a minimum of two lines, range from $159.99 per month to $249.99 per month.

Handsets start at $59.99 with a two-year service agreement.

While I would certainly feel safer knowing that I can “track” my children at any time of the day, it would also be fairly easy for parents to get unreasonably addicted to such technology over a long term. Makes me wonder how much “regulation” is really okay when it comes to parents and kids. I guess a fine balance, however, is hard to pin down - as always.