Microsoft pulls Kin advert over 'sexting' allegations

Sydney, April 19 (ANI): Microsoft has announced its decision to pull a controversial advert for its new Kin line of phones after complaints emerged that it promotes "sexting" among teens.

The advert shows a man in a club taking a photo under his T-shirt using a Kin phone and sharing it with his friends. Thereafter, a young woman is shown receiving the message with a smile on her face.

Many, including James Steyer, chief executive officer of the non-profit Common Sense Media, have criticised the advert saying it is "absolutely baffling" that Microsoft had chosen to promote its Kin phones by glorifying sexting.

"It is both irresponsible and outrageous that an industry leader like Microsoft would take a form of digital abuse and position it as 'cool and hip' in order to sell a new product that is directly targeted to a teen audience," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Steyer, as saying.

And now Microsoft has issued a statement saying the company views the issue of sexting "very seriously" and had never intended to promote it in any way. It said the advert was meant to capture "the energy and playfulness of the generation of social communicators".

Microsoft said: "We have received feedback that one of the Kin lifestyle videos has a scene that did not come across in the spirit it was intended.

"Upon further review we have acknowledged that and since removed the clip." (ANI)