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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Google's 3-D virtual world is easy; needs filter.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Teens can use Google's room templates, but they can be creative and build one from scratch.

  • Messages:

    Most users are nice and friendly, although with any social space, there's the potential to run into mean-spirited and offensive avatars. Also, the site can be addicting and it's easy to spend hours chatting and roaming from room to room.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Some rooms are devoted to fighting. Avatars can kick, slap, punch, etc. with sound effects, but you can also hug another avatar or give someone a high five.

  • Sex:

    Some rooms are devoted to sex. Avatars can do sexual things such as kiss another avatar. Filterless chats allow sexually graphic speach. Female avatars have large chests, small waists, and skimpy outfits are the norm.

  • Language:

    Filterless chat means freedom to type anything and everything anyone wants.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    You can discuss drugs, smoking, and alcohol, but these don't seem to be popular topics within chat.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Lively

Parents need to know that this free virtual world from Google doesn't use filters, so teens 13 and up can say anything and everything (including giving away personal information). The principle thrust of the site will be amped up chat. But, once the software is downloaded, the site can stimulate creativity in the building of new rooms. There are public and private rooms -- depending on privacy controls -- which we encourage teens to use. Special interest rooms are dedicated to fighting or promoting sexual activity (peep shows, for example), but others are just coolly decorated islands. As with most virtual worlds, Lively.com can be addicting -- which means it's a potential time suck. Teens can also attach outside URLs to objects such as furniture. To report abuse, you can click on the offending avatar. Teens need a Gmail account to play around.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about online etiquette. What's OK to say in a chat room? What information is fine to share with "friends" online and what's better to keep to yourself? And ask your kids what they can do in a virtual world that they don't feel they can do in the real one? What's the appeal? Also, what should you do if you're being bullied or harassed in any way?
Tools and tips that can help

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  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Cole12
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

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