Acrobat pro 468X60

Mosquito Devices Told To Buzz Off


A while back I wrote about Mosquito ringtones that most adults can’t hear, that kids were using in schools to receive calls and SMSs because their teachers couldn’t hear it. If you’ve never heard a Mosquito ringtone then there are some samples later on.

The ringtone is based upon the Mosquito device, that around 3,500 retailers have installed across the UK to keep kids away from their stores and premises. The Mosquito emits a very-high pitched whine that most people over 30 can’t hear, but becomes very annying for anyone under 30.

Finally a campaign has been started to ban these devices. The children’s commissioner, backed by civil liberties group Liberty, say the Mosquito should “Buzz off”.

Children’s commissioner for England, Sir Al Aynsley-Green, explained:

“These devices are indiscriminate and target all children and young people, including babies, regardless of whether they are behaving or misbehaving. The use of measures such as these are simply demonising children and young people, creating a dangerous and widening divide between the young and the old.”

Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti also said:

“What type of society uses a low-level sonic weapon on its children? Imagine the outcry if a device was introduced that caused blanket discomfort to people of one race or gender, rather than to our kids.”

Even though I can’t hear the device, I think it’s really unfair on law-abiding kids who just want to have a burger (even some McDonald’s have installed the device). I feel sorry for those babies who are getting distressed by the noise, and may even suffering long-term damage to their hearing, when their parents are eating in an establishments with a Mosquito. They surely must be breaking noise pollution laws, if they are loud or annoying enough to scare away children?

I hope somebody somewhere sees sense and bans these devices. If you want to listen to some Mosquito noises, and to check just how bad or good your hearing is, then check out these samples:

  • Everyone should be able to hear: 8khz
  • Everyone 60 and under: 10khz
  • Everyone 50 and under: 12khz
  • Everyone 40 and under: 15khz
  • Everyone 30 and under: 16khz
  • Everyone 24 and under (I couldn’t hear these and I’m 34): 17khz, 19khz, 20khz, 21khz, 22khz

Bookmark & Share

Related Posts

About the Author

author photo

Everton is based in London and has worked in the internet and mobile space for over ten years now, and before that worked in corporate strategy and consulting. He has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University, and currently runs the Portal and online operations for one of the largest ISPs in the UK. He also writes for Windows 7 News.

See All Posts by This Author

There Are 13 Responses So Far. »

Pages: [2] 1 » Show All

  1. #13

    Thanks for the providing good information - this is really helpful information about Ringtones.I found another good one that helped me find a great website for <a href=”http://mosquitoringtone.mobi/index6.html”>Mosquito Ringtone</a>

  2. #12

    [...] I wrote you about a ringtone (so long ago I can’t find the link). It was fun to try out this new link. Some of the guys at work could hear these and some couldn’t. Some of the frequencies were so [...]

  3. #11

    [...] here (and scroll to the bottom) to hear various samples for each age group.  As a 32-year-old, I [...]

Pages: [2] 1 » Show All

Subscribe without commenting

Post a Response


Comment Policy: Any comments are permitted only because the site owner is letting you post, and any comments could be removed for any reason at the absolute discretion of the site owner.
  • Subscribe Now!

    subscribe to my feed subscribe to my feed
    1 - What is RSS?
    2 - Or, signup & receive updates by email!
  • www.checkcost.co.uk

    Read Reviews & Compare

    Computer

    Laptops

    Printer

    MP3 Players

    Compare Prices

  • RSS Windows 7 News