A panel of academic experts has been convened to advise ministers in England as part of their Children's Plan, and is due to report next year.
They will be collating the results of existing research on the issue.
But they also want to hear from those most directly affected by such things as advertising, the entertainment media, websites and sponsorship.
The work is being led by Prof David Buckingham of the Institute of Education, London University, who is founder and director of the Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media.
He said there was growing concern about the influence of commercial forces on contemporary childhood.
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