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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 0; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Kids' browser features prescreened, safe sites.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Kids 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.

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Parents may object to how the browser recommends content based on the child's gender (e.g. fashion and dolls for girls, sports for boys).
  • Violence:

    Not an issue.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    The basic KidZui membership is free. Enhanced memberships cost $4.95 a month or $49.95 a year. Currently, there are no ads, but many of the same companies (like Disney) turn up as featured content over and over.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of KidZui was written by Susan Yudt

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

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • 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?
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More on KidZui

What’s the Story?

Launched in March 2008, 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.

Is It Any Good?

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.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism

    Too many ads

    Too many ads. Everytime something is loading there is a ad to look at while you wait. inevitably, my kids click the ad and never actually get to a site...just jump through ads. haven't found a way to block ads.

  2. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0

    Really like it and works well with the firefox browser

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • User content is age appropriate

    Very good.

    Very good. It's safe. The only problem is when you want cool things, you'll need to pay.

  4. I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Safety isn't an issue

    safe surfing

    My kids loved the free website so much had to buy the upgraded version. This is the only way my kids are allowed to surf. Love the reports that tell me what my kids are doing.

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 1.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Safety isn't an issue

    Perfect for young curious kids but not for older kids

    I don't really like KidZui because it is boring and useless. It is slow with loading and doesn't allow many perfectly safe videos and sites!

  6. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism

    it has ads

  7. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Nebraska
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • User content is age appropriate

    Perfect For Any Kid!

    I love it. You can decorate your own background and other cool things. There are so many you can't explain.

  8. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    OK

    Pretty cool. Parents you will like it so will your kids. It could just frustrate your kids with the extremely long loading and earning "points" for "levels".

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

  10. I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism
    • My highlights are:
    • Safety isn't an issue

    Great for kids not for little kids

    Sometimes i find my little seing content before he is old enough to see it

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    Lives in Iowa
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

  12. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0

    Christmas

    Christmas,Christmas give a cheer. Be happy, happy Christmas is HERE!!!!!

  13. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 2.0

  15. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

  16. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    Like answering a prayer for parents

    This downloadable browser is comparable to Internet Explorer but just for kids. It showcases a fun user interface and allows kids to really give their opinion and a sense of self by tagging and customizing their experience. It's filled with educational content as well as what's new and hot. Definitely recommended!!!

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