 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
iCarly
- Nickelodeon
- Genre: Comedy
Common Sense Media says
Interactive show raises social media issues for tweens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this semi-interactive tween comedy integrates with its partner website (iCarly.com), and the show’s format encourages kids' interest in checking out and contributing to the site. In other words, if your computer-savvy kids are fans, this is the perfect time to reiterate your family rules about Internet use and safety. The content is mostly benign, with language limited to some name-calling ("loser" and "jerk," for example) and a simplistic view of teen relationships, but the show does raise timely points about issues like cyberbullying, since the characters sometimes use their broadcasts to rant about other people.
What's the story?
ICARLY centers on Carly Shay (Miranda Cosgove), an opinionated young teen who lives with her artsy 20-something brother, Spencer (Jerry Trainor), while their father is abroad with the military. Carly stumbles into Internet fame when a video of her and her sassy best friend, Sam (Jennette McCurdy), gossiping about their peers is accidentally posted online and accessed by thousands of fans, who demand more of the hilarity. From off-the-wall stunts to their personal musings about teen life, Carly, Sam, and their friend/producer Freddie (Nathan Kress) are never lacking inspiration for their show.
Is it any good?
iCarly gives tweens the opportunity to step outside reality and live vicariously through the colorful characters' lives. Few rules exist for Carly and her friends, due mostly to the absence of a credible authority figure, and they've achieved stardom by taking their personal views to the uncensored airwaves. In other words, theirs isn’t a lifestyle easily emulated by viewers, but the fact that the show makes it so appealing is good reason for parents to do a reality check, reminding kids of the dangers of cyberbullying in particular.
That's not to say the show is all bad, though. Much of it is laugh-out-loud funny, it boasts a colorful cast of characters (thanks to a very talented cast) and it reflects the technological nature of modern social interactions. Tweens will relate to the characters and their realistic issues with friends, family, and school, and parents will be relieved to know that there's little content that's worrisome for their kids.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the Internet. What kinds of things can you see online? Is it good or bad to be able to access so much information and content? How does the Web affect your relationship with other people?
What are some of the dangers associated with Internet use? Has anyone you know ever been bullied or otherwise mistreated online? How? What did they do?
Remind your kids that they should never say anything online that they wouldn't say to someone's face, and make sure tweens understand your rules for using the Internet, especially regarding uploading videos and providing personal information to any website. For more on Internet safety, click here.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
No good role models.
I find my children watching this all the time (Except my fourteen year old) and it is not appropriate. There are terrible role models. My younger daughters are always acting like Sam. I agree with ilovecookiez, Carly is a spoiled brat, always asking Spencer (who usually does get what she wants) what she wants. I've caught an episode where Spencer decides to actually act like a parental guardian and not let Carly go to a wrestling game. Then Carly goes on a rage, and chases Spencer around trying to attack him in some sort of way. Including bowling balls. How ridiculous. I thought Carly was fifteen or sixteen and this is how she acts? And Freddy's mom gets treated very poorly. Freddy moved out just because she was being overprotective. Now this I know will get my kids attention. Thanks, to this show, whenever I say "no" to my daughter (a 7-year-old) she acts just like Carly did in that one episode. There is no such thing as being overprotective, there are a lot of dangerous things out there. Freddy's mom is probably the only good role model that the show is promoting to be the bad guy. Another thing is that they CONSTANTLY use God's name in vein. They also talk about boobs a lot (but not as much now it's just bra). Still not age appropriate. I recommend not watching this until your twelve or thirteen unless they take role models. Also, did you notice how ungrateful they were in iDo? Goodness! Instead of being happy for getting invited to a wedding and even becoming BRIDESMAIDS (and the special man, or whatever it's called) they start whining like they have nothing good in their life and start complaining about singing or how the outfits were ugly, which, by the way, were very nice clothes, and I'm pretty sure were very expensive. I swear, if people acted like that at my wedding, I would've told them how much money I spent on this, and I would've told them to get out without a doubt. Gosh, this show makes me want to cuss a paragraph, and I never cuss! Also, those girls cyberbully. Every single time someone treats them badly (which they don't seem to notice that they're treating even WORST) they talk trash about them on their popular web show. Just let it go for crying out loud. I'm sorry this world isn't filled with rainbows and butterflies. What? Do you want Spencer to fix that too? Unbelievable! Also, 8-year-olds are not tweens. 10-12 year olds are. Sorry for the misspellings before, I type way too fast!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Okay for older kids, absurd for 8 yr olds
I'm very concerned about the amount of kissing, the bra waving, and boob references that occur in this show for tweens, and think that the preponderence of such is definitely sending the wrong message. Already in middle school kids are feeling very pressured to explore their sexual sides in negative ways; this just emphasizes the necessity for doing so. The idea that it's okay for 8 yr olds to start watching and getting these ideas at this age is absurd.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Crude, Rude, And Too Much Attitude
Personally, as I child, I have many issues with this show. Sure, Carly is a girl who can stick up for herself. The show gets one point for that. Sam is VIOLENT and spontaneously teases and hurts a boy named Gibby in their school. They use Sam's meanness toward him for humor, and I find that very disturbing. About the 'ROMANTIC' factor: I think everyone should be comfortable with the human body, and romance definitely is not a bad thing. In this show, they talk about too much 'love', though. They jump from one boy to another, and say things like 'hot'. Kids should know that to have a successful relationship you can't do that. LANGUAGE: The site says it's not an issue, but it is. It seems the writer's have a lack of vocabulary, because they don't know what a hobo is. They continuously use the word for humor, when it is an actual career. Some people choose to hobo, and others are forced to. A hobo travels and does manual labor. Miranda Cosgrove, they wouldn't have a neighborhood hobo, it would be a neighborhood bum. They use other terms like 'skunkbag'. They aren't considered cursewords, but they are hurtful and should not be used. CONSUMERISM: The show itself has become very popular and is making a lot of money off of its crude humor. In the show, in one episode the iCarly crew is paid money to advertise for a shoe on the show and goes all out in a spending spree. Consumerism=bad. They also DO NOT MAKE GOOD ROLE MODELS. People often show an extreme preference for Carly over the others. However, Carly gossips, uses innapropriate language, and is unkind toward Freddie. One may think that is Sam, but they both are. They tend to tease him, and sometimes they seem like they are being condescending toward him. They influence children in a bad way when the child watching is not mature enough. THE MESSAGES AREN'T GOOD: On occasion, you'll see a lesson in morals in the fine print, but otherwise no. They once go to a man's funeral just to get his pie recipe and stall so they can hack his computer and search it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
This would be fine for TEENS. NOT TWEENS. Saying its Ok for 8 and up is irresponsible. 8 year olds do not need to be watching teenager type shows with flirting and talking about boys being hot. Another example of how our culture is encouraging kids to grow up too fast.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Not ever okay in my house!
I forbid my son to watch this show at our house. He sees it at his cousins. Although the show itself is not awful, there are really disturbing elements. No parental supervision is apparent, kids are broadcasting onto the Internet and there are no safety precautions being taken, and frankly I do not like the way my son speaks to me after watching this show. While there is no profanity, he becomes surly and sarcastic afer seeing these children interact with each other and adults. There is often the undermining of any kind of adult authority.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Grow up parents!
Grow up parents, a little sexy stuff won't hurt your kids. I've seen worse in commercials. If anything you can use it as a teaching tool so they don't ask their friends at school. I'm sure a six year old won't understand what a hobknocker is. You can just tell them not to repeat it and teach them something about bad language. Sam may be a little violent but she does stand up for herself, and in this world you can't be a pushover. Parents tend to overlook the good aspects of things, this show is funny and teaches kids about expressing themselves in various ways.I let my child watch it because I watch it with her and explain to her like this, if you do these things in the real world you will get real world consequences. :)
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Great for teens but not for younger kids
I really like ICarly, sometimes i watch it with my dad because he likes it too. But sometimes he describes the show as''inappropriate''. It's a really good show for teen but not for younger kids. THIS IS WHY.
1.Sam is violent, and that makes her a bad role model.
2.Sometimes carly wears really short skirts.
3. There was an episode where Carly and Freddie kissed a lot.
4. Spencer keeps dating girls he barely knows.
5. Sam and Freddie insult each other.
7. Bullying.
Its a good show for teens ;)
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Too Sexualized
I had to do a research paper on this show for one of my media classes. Don't be fooled parents! Just because this show centers around two tween girls and their goofy antics, there's a TON of sexual innuendo and older teen behavior in this middle school based comedy.
Most of the sexual innuendo lines come from Carly's older brother, but sometimes the younger boys say a line or two that are shocking.
Sam referenced in one episode about her Dad being in jail and, I believe, her mom had a drug or alcohol problem...
In a few episodes the girls are wearing mini skirts and I think one episode had them wearing a push-up bra...
And then there was an episode where Sam gets a boyfriend (whom she's crazy about since her last one was in 5TH GRADE...??). Carly gets annoyed because Sam starts blowing off the iCarly show to be with her "beau". Sam's relationship is to her demise, though, when at the end of the episode Sam's boyfriend cheats on Sam by kissing Carly! Seriously?? These girls are supposed to be in MIDDLE SCHOOL... probably 12 years old... and they're doing all of this??
I would not allow my kids to watch this show. Nickelodeon used to be "FOR KIDS" but now it's clearly for an older crowd... which is silly because older kids don't watch Nickelodeon, they watch MTV -- but don't get me started on that one! LOL
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Kids love it, but plenty to discuss
Your kids will love this show, and even with my negative review, it is mostly harmless and I DO let my eight year old daughter watch. However, when something happens that is inappropriate (and there is plenty) we discuss. Two examples, these are supposed to be middle school students, why is Carly alone in her studio kissing a boy? Why is Sam and Carly having a contest to see who will get kissed by specific boy first? I don't live under a rock, but REALLY? Sex is sold as "no big deal". My second grader and her friends talk about boyfriends, and how who broke up with who, and who is making "greedy eyes" at who WAY more that they should at 7 or 8, and scenes in popular shows like this support this behavior. The second major issue I have with the show is Sam's behavior of belittling EVERYONE. She is frankly, a huge brat, and her flavor of snarkiness is something else that causes discussion on our household. Kids seem to think this is funny, when it is really just mean-spirited. I hear them emulate these crass-style comments in school and on the playground, and think "wow." I will say the pear-phone cracks me up (Apple apparently wanted to much money for product placement-LOL.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Perfect for kids 2-7
This show is stupid. Why are they so annoying when they talk? Whats with all those stupid slangs? L O L, Nub, High Def, O M G. I NEVER hear any other kids say those out loud. Dan Schnneider thinks all teens/kids talk like that, I don't and everybody I know doesn't either. Terrible show and actors
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | book characters, friendship |
| TV rating: | TV-G |
| Network: | Nickelodeon |
| Cast: | Jennette McCurdy, Miranda Cosgrove, Nathan Kress |
| Genre: | Comedy |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
