Have you ever heard of a thing called "the teenager tone"?

Question

It's a high-pitched tone that supposedly only people under age 20 can hear. (yes, like a human dog whistle)
A co-worker of mine "played" it and I could hear it but another co-worker could not.
Im a thirtysomething so I was flattered.
If you have heard of it, what is it's purpose?

Answer 1

It was invented by a store owner in Great Britain who was tired of teenagers hanging out just outside his shop's front door. He discovered that if he played a tone at a pitch high enough for teenagers to hear, it would annoy them. However, it was too high for his older customers to be bothered.

When it worked and got some publicity, teenagers then started downloading it for their cellphones and other signal devices so they could get messages without the older adults around them becoming alerted.

BTW, I'm 51, and although it's faint, I CAN hear it. It's not fool proof.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 2

I have heard it multiple times. Teens use it for cellphones so the teacher cant hear it and stores use it to keep away teens that they don't like. The weird thing is I can hear dog whistles.

Answer 3

That tone is the most horrendous thing ever invented! It hurts and even after you're out of range the ringing is still in the ears! I'ts torture.

Answer 4

it's basically so a teacher can't hear a cell phone, because the vibration sometimes makes noise

Answer 5

Yes, I've heard of it. I'm sure to some degree its real.

Answer 6

It is true. It is called the mosquito tone. You can listen to it here -
http://www.fork.com/ringtones.php

Answer 7

i'm sure it has something to do with hearing loss. every one loses their hearing and i guess that teens have better hearing

Answer 8

wow, i've never heard of that, but i'll have to star this question so i can see other answers.