This is new? Back in 1991, they used this technique to figure out what breaks the Ex-Presidents surf.

Not necessarily "bad" parenting, but certainly lazy parenting. It is completely the parent's responsibility to monitor what their children are doing. Blaming Apple for your kids running up your credit card is like blaming Glock when you shoot someone. It's YOUR responsibility. I have young child who has an iPod Touch and we set up an account for him with no credit card attached to it and only we know the password. If he wants to purchase anything he has to come to us, he pays us with his allowance and we purchase it for him. This serves several purposes:

• 1) It allows us to monitor what he's playing/using and veto power if we don't think the content is appropriate.
• 2) He learns the value of money, since he's spending his own.
• 3) There's interaction between us regarding this device, and he asks plenty of questions.

Can Apple (or other software vendors) do a better job with parental controls, ease of use and understanding of this technology? Of course, but it'll never be perfect and every kid and family is different. It's no different than any other product - if you don't understand it, feel it's dangerous or not appropriate, don't like the company's policies or history, etc. - you don't buy the product.

This "poor me, it's not MY fault" attitude just boils my blood.

YOU bought the product. YOU allow your kid to use it. It's YOUR responsibility.

It's not an electronic babysitter. It's a device that can be used for good or evil - there needs to be guidance.

Appropriate XKCD reference. This discussion is now over. There is nothing left to be said.

...or a swallow...but which one? An African or a European swallow?

Well this is money well spent. I mean, having to correct my clock every 100 million years was becoming just too laborious.