This is the sound of a Mosquito Ultrasonic Teen Deterrent designed to be played in areas teenagers are gathering and causing a nuisance. It’s pitched at 17Khz which won’t be heard by most adults but can be heard by teenagers and children. If you couldn’t hear that, you might be able to hear this version at a slightly lower 15Khz it will give you an idea of how annoying it would be to remain in an area where this noise was present.

Is this though a fair way to treat our young people? And even if it is what about the teenagers and younger children who are doing nothing wrong also be affected by the noise? The National Youth Agency and others involved in the Buzz Off Campaign say that the device is neither a fair nor reasonable way for a civilised society to treat young people and are calling for the end to the use of all ultra-sonic dispersal devices, of which there are estimated to be 3,500 in use across the country.

There is evidence however that some young people are using this sound to their advantage by using the mosquito sound as a phone ringtone only they and not teachers or parents can hear allowing them to leave their mobile phones on in school.

Other links:
The Mosquito
Sonic Weaponry
Buzz Off Campaign
The Mosquito in Bristol