Virtual Pocket Money

They like using the Internet. They have lots of money to spend. And they spend much more money online than the rest of us. Teenagers are just the right sort of people who Internet retailers want to sell to. And the things they want to buy – games, CDs and clothing – are easily sold on the Web.

But paying online is a tricky business for those consumers who are too young to own credit cards. Most of them have to use a parent’s card. However, the problem may be solved in the near future, as new ways of turning pocket money into cybercash are already on the horizon.

In general. Teenagers spend huge amounts of money: about $ 153bn in the US and $29,4bn in the UK. Most teenagers have access to the Internet at home or at school – 88% in the US and 69% in the UK. In the US,12- to 17-year-olds spend on average six hours a month online buying something, and the most popular items are CDs, books, games, videos and clothing.

In most cases, parents pay for these purchases with credit cards, which is often unsatisfactory for them and their children, because it’s much easier for a child to persuade a parent to buy something on the high street, rather than force them to spend money online.

One way to help them convert notes and coins into cybercash is through prepaid cards such as InternetCash in the US and Smart cards in the UK. Each of them conceals a 14-digit number that can be used to load the cash into an online account. This could be really an effective solution to the existing problem of spending money online.

Grammar review

1. Read these rules of an online book club. Then answer the questions.

You must be 18 or over.

You shouldn’t give your password to anyone.

You don’t have to buy every month.

You don’t have to buy our recommendations.

You need to buy ten books per year.

You don’t have to pay after each purchase.

You must pay within three months.

1. Can you join if you are 17?

2. Can you give your password to a friend if you want to?

3. Is it necessary to buy a book every month?

4. Is it necessary to buy the recommendations?

5. Can you buy only five books per year?

6. Is it necessary to pay after each purpose?

7. Is it necessary to pay within three months?

2. Complete sentences 1 to 8 with suitable endings a) to h).

1. It’s getting late

2. I can work from home

3. I’ve been transferred to Madrid

4. This deal is too important to lose

5. We lost our database once before

6. I’m afraid this report is urgent

7. I think we’re all in agreement

8. We’ve still got plenty of stock in the warehouse

1. so we don’t need you order any more yet

2. so we must not make a mistake

3. so you must not forget to back up the files

4. so you’ll have to stay and finish it

5. so I have to learn some Spanish

6. so we have to go

7. so I don’t have to go into the office much

8. so we don’t need to discuss it any further

3. Write a list of rules for an online retailer who wants to create a website.

Example: Your website must be easy to use.

Skills.

Making bookings and appointments. Checking arrangements.