KOL.com
AOL for kids has fun games, but tabloid feel.
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Seen the site?
details
- URL: http://kids.aol.com/
- Entertainment Value: Medium.
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that the site is heavy on marketing movies, TV, and music to kids, all of which is not-so-cleverly disguised as Web site content. Kids may not recognize this for what it is.
Families can talk about the creative possibilities in the "create a comic" game. This is a good opportunity for family fun as kids experiment with story lines, facial expressions, and humor. Families can also talk about learning to distinguish true content from advertising and marketing messages. How can you tell which is which?
Families can talk about the creative possibilities in the "create a comic" game. This is a good opportunity for family fun as kids experiment with story lines, facial expressions, and humor. Families can also talk about learning to distinguish true content from advertising and marketing messages. How can you tell which is which?
Message
Social Behavior:
Some mild gross-out humor in the Games section.
Consumerism:
Lots and lots of marketing for TV shows, music, and movies. Much for sale on sites that KOL links to. Encourages kids to make wish lists.
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Educational Value:
The homework help links are good, and the comic creator is first rate. But they're a little hidden behind all the marketing.
Violence
Sex
Language
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Jean Armour Polly
KOL -- Kids OnLine -- is AOL's site for kids, offering content in a number of categories. The Movie section features the biggest family movie that's new in theaters. You can watch the movie trailer, find a few fun facts on the stars, and occasionally print some iron-on artwork. You can also vote for your favorite books, movies, and TV shows, as well as participate in polls. The Style section tracks "Trends of the Week" as well as the "Hair Honor Role" at the Billboard Music Awards. The Create It section features some crafts, recipes, and links to the Art Zone. The Games area has links to video game recommendations, as well as many fun online challenges. Additional content features sports, animals, music, and homework-help links.
Is it any good?
KOL offers quite a lot of diversions, although many of them are tied to marketing movies, music, TV shows, and other products. At Christmastime, for instance, you can even find Santa's own page on KOL. There, you can write to the jolly old elf using a handy form, and you can also rate toys and read comments on them from other kids. From there, it's just one click to a site called TargetTweens.securepromotion.com sponsored by Target and featuring Hello Kitty and friends. While there, kids can check out the product showcase of clothes and accessories and encouraged to "add them to YOUR wish list now!" Similar links take kids to TheToyInsider.com, where they can, in turn, click through to toy company sites.
KOL doesn't even bother to mention that any of these clicks will take a user off site. This is poor practice and makes it difficult for users to understand where they are. Despite some high points, KOL feels like a tabloid newspaper for kids. It needs to tone down the marketing messages and get some additional online participation features.
Nuts and bolts
- Playability: Easy.
- Reading Required: Light
- Graphics: Cartoon, photos.
Other choices
Parents and kids say
All Reviews
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Adult Reviews
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Kids Reviews
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What do your kids do online?
Surf
34%
Homework and research
19%
Download music
10%
Chat with friends
37%
132 votes