US carriers have adopted a ratings system for mobile content, paving the way for carriers to sell mobile adult content. CTIA published the guidelines that are comparable to existing ratings for music, TV, movies and video games. The ratings system would only apply to mobile content that users purchase from carriers, not content downloaded from the Internet.
The initial guidelines divide content into two groups: general interest and restricted content. Restricted content is material that has been deemed appropriate only for those over the age of 18. Carriers plan to make restricted content available after they have developed filters to allow parents to restrict access to the material. Obviously, adult content is an incredibly lucrative business, and mobile adult content will soon be, too. Carriers have hemmed and hawed over the mobile adult content issue and with good reason: The issue of on-the-go viewing is going to get a lot of attention.
For more on carriers' new ratings system:
- take a look at this piece from The New York Times
- the actual CTIA guidelines (pdf)