Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that KidZui is a browser that limits the Internet to about a half a million pre-screened Web sites, photos, and videos that are recommended by its panel for kids ages 3-12. Parents must provide an email address to activate each kid's account, and can create their own account that allows them to monitor what sites kids visit, who they add as friends, and when they're online. There's also a social element: Kids can create an avatar and make friends, but only to share their favorite sites -- there's no chatting. Parents can customize what their kids see by adding or blocking sites. If a kid tries to access a site that isn't on KidZui, it gets submitted to the panel for review. KidZui does a good job of screening out sex, violence, and bad language, but parents may wish that the featured sites were more educational and less commercial.
Families can talk about why it's often better to go to a kid-safe site than to a general browser to find the best age-appropriate, reliable information. What are the benefits of having search engines and sites designed just for kids? What are safe sites to browse? How can you tell which sites you can trust? Families can also talk about respecting and protecting privacy. Why would your parents need to know what sites you are looking at?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Susan Yudt
The just-launched KIDZUI.COM takes a novel approach to making the Web safe for kids: Rather than block iffy content, why not build a new net out of safe sites? The result is 500,000+ sites, photos, and videos that won't make parents run for cover. The browser also adds a fun, safe social element, too. Kids create their own Zui ("zooo-eeee") avatar who can recommend favorite sites to other Zui friends. The browser allows kids to search by keyword or enter a URL, and it divides content into site, photos, and videos. Kids can use the "explore" bar to search popular topics like science, music, and games; click "science" and the bar switches to related subtopics, like astronomy, living things, and trees.
Parents will like that they can monitor kids' activity (what sites they visit, when they add a friend, and for how long). Kids will like the user-friendly graphic interface and the ability to tag sites and share them with friends. A downside: Each kid's home page contains an array of recommended content based on what's most popular among other kids; that means Disney and Barbie dominate, to the exclusion of more diverse, educational sites.
Other safe sites for kids include Zilladog.com, Kidsclick.org, and AskforKids.com.
Reviewed: 03/20/2008
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Social BehaviorParents may object to how the browser recommends content based on the child's gender (e.g. fashion and dolls for girls, sports for boys). |
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CommercialismKidZui costs $9.95 a month ($4.95 as an introductory offer). Currently, there are no ads, but many of the same companies (like Disney) turn up as featured content over and over. |
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Educational ValueKids can find lots of useful info by browsing categories or searching terms -- although they'll find a lot of commercial sites in addition to educational ones. |
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