Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this popular doll dress-up site is not suitable for young kids, despite the creators' assurances that it is meant for kids, with parental permission. (Kids under 18 are supposed to have parental permission to join, but all you really needs is a valid email address.) The guidelines and moderator warnings to adult members against posting inappropriate content aren't heeded. But that's no surprise, considering the sexed-up doll and fashion choices aren't kid-appropriate either and "role play forums" exist on the site. Offensive words get bleeped out in chat rooms, but stuff often gets through. Kids can also send private messages to other members. Profiles include personal information, including location. Kids have to earn online Dollbucks to buy clothes, and ads are everywhere -- even embedded into contests and content.
Families can talk about Internet safety for sites where kids and adults hang out together. Does that pose unique safety problems? When an adult male on a doll dress-up site offers "fatherly advice" to kids that should raise a red flag. What information should you give out? Also, discuss sexualized images of women. Do you think your body should look like a doll on Dollwar.com?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Dana Villamagna
Playing computerized doll dress-up games, shopping for clothes, entering fashion competitions, and joining a "clan" at DOLLWAR.COM all sound like child's play. But they have the potential to quickly become inappropriate for kids when adults play on the same site. On Dollwar.com, there's also an iffy option to create a profile with spots for personal information like name, age, gender, and location, for which players get "fame" points whenever someone visits their profile. Bottom line: There are images, content, and ads that many parents will not want their kids exposed to on Dollwar.com. Does this top Internet doll dress-up gaming site really want to be for children or adults? While they figure that out, kids who love fashion should find somewhere else to play.
For better fashion fan choices check out TeenVogue.com. Younger kids might like BarbieGirls.com.
Reviewed: 01/10/2008
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentThe site has "role play" and other forums where rules are ignored and sexual content gets posted. The female dress-up doll image and most of her fashion options are hyper-sexualized versions of women with big boobs, small waists, and plump lips. Players can shoot a water balloon at odd jumping images of a bikini-clad girl with her legs spread to win a "hot ringtone." |
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LanguageNone observed. |
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Social BehaviorThe prototype doll on this site does not supply young girls with anything similar to a realistic body image (think: Barbie post-breast implants and collagen lip injections). Players win points to spend on the site via "battles" against other players for best-dressed doll, "hot or not" events, and by getting "fame" for the number of people who visit their profile. |
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CommercialismWhile the site is free, you have to pay to upgrade with "mojo." (4 mojo for $1.96, sold in groups of up to 500). Pages are littered with ads for products ranging from cell phones, laptops, and SUVs to "Find Sexy Girls" and other adult-oriented Web sites. |
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Educational ValueThis site is not appropriate fashion competition or style creativity for kids. |
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