There is a free cell phone ringtone on the Internet that can be downloaded by tweens called the "Mosquito." It is appealing because only kids can hear the ringtone and it goes unnoticed by the adult ear. Is the ringtone safe for tweens to use? Here are some facts about the Mosquito ringtone.
History of the Mosquito Ringtone
The "Mosquito" ringtone was originally developed to hinder teens from hanging around malls and other establishments by giving off an offensive buzzing noise that only their ears could hear, which would drive them away. Because the frequency of the Mosquito ringtone is so high (about 17.4 kHz), it goes unnoticed by the adult ear, as adults tend to experience a natural hearing loss with age. The idea was to allow adults to shop comfortably while getting rid of unwanted kids.
Why Do Tweens Love the Mosquito Ringtone
It did not take long for tweens and teens to realize that this ringtone could be fun to add on a cell phone. In fact, some cell phones come with the ringtone already downloaded upon purchase. It gives kids a "secret communication" that can be used to signal something to each other (such as, "Meet me after school.") or to just bother the heck out of each other. The fact that adults cannot hear the ringtone makes it all the more enticing, which ultimately leads to disbelief that adults cannot hear the noise, which makes kids laugh.
Mosquito Ringtone Safety
As the Mosquito ringtone was invented by Howard Stapleton, a British inventor, The Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (London) did a limited research on the affects of the ringtone, which gave inconclusive evidence that the ringtone was unsafe for a child's ears. However, The German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health declared that the sound could pose a risk to adults, stating that overexposure to the noise can cause disequilibrium, headaches, and dizziness. Tweens and adults should know that they can just leave the room, if the noise is too bothersome. The ringtone, on the other hand, should not be played around a young child who does not have the knowledge to remove himself from the noise.
Where to Download the Mosquito Ringtones for Free
There are multiple places on the Internet to download the Mosquito ringtone. The Free Mosquito Ringtones website allows one to hear the ringtone before downloading. Parents who have not been exposed to the ringtone can give it a try as well. Teen Buzz offers free ringtones as well. Teen Buzz is just another name to identify the Mosquito ringtone.
Denise Oliveri - Denise has been writing for Suite101 for many years, and enjoys sharing her experiences and knowledge with readers. Her main occupation at ...
