Commercialism Corner

Commercialism Corner: Your one-stop shop for quick summaries and links to all the latest news about the commercialization of childhood.

Suit Alleges Disney, Other Top Sites Spied on Users - A lawsuit filed in federal court last week alleges that a group of well-known Web sites, including those owned by Disney, Warner Bros. Records, and Demand Media, broke the law by secretly tracking the Web movements of their users, including children. http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20013672-261.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Would Kids Eat Fruits and Veggies To Get a Free Fast-Food Toy? – Proposed legislation in San Francisco would allow fast food toys only with meals that have better nutritional quality. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/08/12/would-kids-eat-fruits-and-veggies-to-get-a-free-fast-food-toy/

Do These Jeans Make My Diaper Look Big? – Children’s clothing retailers are selling adult-style “skinny jeans” for toddlers and babies with great success.  Why are children being dressed like adults so young, and what are the possible consequences? This Wall Street Journal article probes these questions. http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704901104575423220608807714-lMyQjAxMTAwMDEwMjExNDIyWj.html

Fisher-Price Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of Dora the Explorer With the Debut of its New We Did It! Dora Doll – The press release for the new, more grown up-looking Dora doll markets the toy as follows: “This year, Dora moves her arms, swings her beautiful long hair and swivels her body to the beat as she teaches kids the steps to her signature dance.” http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/fisher-price/45526/

Disney/Pixar's Toy Story 3 Becomes the Highest Grossing Animated Movie Ever - Disney/Pixar cashes in with Toy Story 3, which earned a total of $920 million at the box office. http://www.cynopsis.com/editions/kids/081610/