that anyone can view
anything on this video-sharing site. Because the videos aren't rated for
age-appropriateness, you never know what you're going to get. That’s part of
the fun of the YouTube -- but it makes it hard to know what ... read more
that although this indie drama features Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, it’s not age-appropriate for tweens and younger teens. The subject matter gets pretty intense -- the movi explores everything from drug addiction to neglectful ... read more
that The Road (based on the 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Cormac McCarthy) is a relentlessly grim, gray portrait of a future in which an unnamed disaster has wiped most living things from the Earth, food is scarce, and people have ... read more
that Ninja Assassin is a fast-paced action movie with tons of extreme martial arts violence and gallons of blood, though its cartoonish tone may be more likely to inspire laughter than shock among teens. The story is about a man who takes ... read more
Assassin's Creed II (Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
Parents Need to Know...
Assassin's Creed II is very violent and definitely not for children. Players assume the role of a deadly assassin who uses weapons such as knives, swords, and daggers to kill human targets. Deaths -- both those resulting from the player ... read more
Scene It? Bright Lights, Big Screen (Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3)
Parents Need to Know...
that this fun, engaging party quiz game uses video clips from real Hollywood films. These scenes are often from R-rated movies and, while they don't show R-rated material, they still feature language, humor, violence, and themes that many ... read more
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (Nintendo Wii)
Parents Need to Know...
this first-person shooter is quite gory and bloody. Gamers can use an assortment of deadly weapons -- from pistols and machine guns to melee attacks using knives -- to kill human-like characters infected by a "mutagenic" virus ... read more
that teens need a MySpace account to access this music feature, so the usual concerns about privacy and social networking sites apply. Teens can listen to music for free, but there are plenty of opportunities to buy MP3s, albums, and ... read more
that this site -- a one-stop shop for the 2008 presidential election -- is part of MySpace.com and therefore best for older teens and up. Not all forum discussions pass the civil discourse test, but such is life both on and off the ... read more
that this site shows very graphic videos about sexual practices -- many of which aren't even marginally appropriate for younger teens. In fact, a disclaimer before some videos suggests that teens under 18 get parental permission before ... read more
that this edgy newsmagazine parody offers frank, pointed social commentary about African-American urban popular culture. The show's mock news stories and comedy sketches are full of strong language (including the occasional unbleeped use ... read more
that this series, like the 2006 Oscar-winning movie that inspired it, is intended for mature audiences. It explores complex social problems like racial tension and police corruption, and much of the characters' inappropriate behavior is ... read more
that this online High School Musical spoof isn't intended for kids. Each episode, which comes with a clear Parental Advisory logo, is full of crude lyrics, profanity (nothing is bleeped), strong sexual innuendo, drug use, and references ... read more
that this book has some mature subject matter. There is some sex and some violence, including a young man who murders his father, rapes (barley described), and unplanned pregnancies. The royal family is made up of half-siblings, and Fire ... read more
that, like all fairy tales, these three tales have a dark side. The third and longest story is the darkest and most adult, with a land of demons who can take over human bodies and make them have (barley described) sex. The first two ... read more
this is an intense book for mature teens. Micah, the main character, is a compulsive liar who claims to be a werewolf (though some of the adults around her think she has psychological problems). Her secret boyfriend is murdered, and later ... read more
that RUSSIAN ROULETTE is about a girl holding a gun, deciding whether or not to shoot herself. The song ends with a gun going off. Though the song includes no graphic language, it does contain references to suicide that will disturb ... read more
that although this album might not be as sick and twisted as Eminem's Relapse, it does focus on violent threats and imagery. 50 Cent talks about shooting people that don't see things his way and discusses more varieties of guns than most ... read more
in general this is a fun, frivolous song about hitting the clubs and partying with friends. But several references to alcohol (including brushing teeth with Jack Daniels) may lead listeners to the conclusion that in order to party hearty, ... read more
