Online Nation

Review

Common Sense Media says

User-generated videos jump from Web to TV.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this interactive TV series features video clips from various Web sites, as well as snippets from videos uploaded onto the show's own site. While some of the clips are fun (and at times very sophisticated), others are silly, shocking, and just plain weird -- exactly like what teens see on the Internet every day. Content varies widely and can include celebrity spoofs, fake blood and prop guns, and potentially dangerous stunts (a human catapult, for example).

  • Positive messages0
    Some videos are clever, while others feature behavior that's silly, bizarre, and/or potentially offensive (in other words, just like what you see online). Some clips include racial stereotypes. One animated piece shows an animated Britney Spears flipping what appears to be her middle finger; another features someone illegally deceiving the DMV. While most stunts featured are mild, some (like a human catapult) could result in injury if attempted in real life.
  • Violence3
    Includes spoofs of people being hit by cars, having various other accidents, punching, pushing, and being held up. Guns (presumably fake) and fake blood are visible in some of these clips. Some dangerous stunts (like a human catapult) are shown.
  • Sex3
    Some videos contain hugging, kissing, and sexual innuendo. References to events like Britney Spears not wearing underwear in public. Occasional shirtless men (but not women).
  • Language3
    Words like "hell" and "damn" are audible; stronger choices, like "f--k," are bleeped.
  • Consumerism3
    Some brands (like Mentos) are shown/featured; others have their labels blurred out. Celebrities like Britney Spears and popular icons like Batman are often parodied or spoofed.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Alcohol, including beer and pictures of mixed drinks, is featured in some of the video clips.
CloseExpand to see more details

What's the story?

Bringing user-generated Web content even further into the mainstream, ONLINE NATION is an interactive series that uses online video clips from sites like YouTube to produce a show that has a lot in common with America's Funniest Home Videos.

Is it any good?

 

Like the clips shown on AFHV, the amateur digital videos include lots of parodies and pranks that range from fun and entertaining to silly and/or shocking. (And some make you wonder if the creators just had too much time on their hands.) Online personalities Stevie "Little Loca" Ryan, Rhett McLaughlin, Lincoln "Link" Neal, and actress Joy Leslie host the show, sometimes contributing their own unique online content as well.

Online Nation will appeal to today's generation of Web-savvy content producers and viewers -- especially since it provides another outlet for their digital masterpieces. And folks who aren't yet very familiar with user-generated videos can tune in to see the range of creative, unique, and sometimes slightly disturbing content that calls the Web home.

Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

Families can talk about the nature of the content featured on the show. Why do people spend so much time making videos and putting them on sites like YouTube? Is it an attempt to get their 15 minutes of fame or just for fun? What makes videos like these so appealing? Would you consider making and posting one of your own? Why or why not? Families can also discuss online videos in general. Is there too much "inappropriate" content on the Web? Who decides what's appropriate when it comes to the Internet? (For our Internet safety guide, click here.)

This review was written by Melissa Camacho

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
This review was written by Melissa Camacho
TV rating:NR
Network:CW
Cast:Lincoln Neal, Rhett McLaughlin, Stevie Ryan
Genre:Reality TV
This review was written by Melissa Camacho
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

For kids who love
Browse more TV
 

vote now

Will you see Online Nation?

Won't miss it
We'll try
Change it

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Been There? Tell us about it