Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that while most of the site's content is completely G-rated, there are just a few user-generated videos that will raise eyebrows. For instance, one 7-year-old girl gyrates stripper-style as Beyonce sings, "We can't wait for the bedroom, so we just hit the floor." Although site administrators review videos before they're posted, there's no obvious way for users to delete them, so parents should be extra vigilant in monitoring what their kids upload. The site also tries to get you to buy something Kidz Bop related at every turn.
Families can talk about why posting videos online could be problematic. Would kids feel uncomfortable knowing that millions of people are watching them and judging their performances? Would they feel hurt if users rated their videos negatively? What makes a performer "talented"? Parents can also relate this to a conversation about celebrities and the pros and cons of public exposure.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Susan Yudt
Love it or hate it, Kidz Bop, the tween music phenomenon, is here to stay, with no small thanks to KIDZBOP.COM. The site promotes the heck out of the franchise, and its store doesn't hesitate to send kids to its MusicSpace page to buy related merchandise. Besides marketing, the main feature of KidzBop.com is user-generated videos. Kids can upload clips of themselves singing, dancing, or lip-synching to pop songs. Kids can rate each other's videos but not post comments or chat -- which is probably a good thing, since most of the performers are more William Hung than Kelly Clarkson. Parents get an email when their kid registers or uploads a video, but the site isn't very user-friendly. It's difficult to find a profile or video, and there's no search engine. With thousands of pages of profiles, good luck finding your kid's content just by browsing. Also, there's no way to delete a video without wiping out the whole profile.
Kids who enjoy other young performers might like Hannah Montana or The Cheetah Girls.
Reviewed: 08/27/2007
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentSome of the songs have sexed-up lyrics like "We can't wait for the bedroom, so we just hit the floor," and there are a number of videos with young girls dancing "sexy." |
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Social BehaviorA mixed bag. Some of the songs have questionable messages, while others, such as the Cheetah Girls' "Cinderella," are pretty positive. ("I can slay my own dragons/I can dream my own dreams/my knight in shining armor is me.") |
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CommercialismIt's all about pushing the Kidz Bop catalog: There are links to buy something all over the place. |
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