Neopets can be a great site depending on who you are. I started playing it when I was about eight years old and strangely learned many things like HTML (the coding used to create webpages) and marketing skills (helpful for users who want to make 'neopoints', the site's currency-- you can create your own shop and sell virtual items for neopoints). Sadly, as great as it is, it's also very addictive. I was neglecting my schoolwork for quite some time (especially when I got into middle school), and as my elementary school years progressed, I became quite overweight. Last year I kind of lost interest (as the website has lost its magic in some ways-- I think when Viacom bought it, that was to be expected) in the website, and basically quit overnight. I was beginning to DREAM about Neopets and obtaining rare items on the site. Crazy, right? Anyhow, I lost a lot of weight (I'm actually erring on the side of skinny now!!) and my grades are my #1 priority now that I've quit Neopets. Of course, once in a while I'll still log on, but it's not my world. As for safety, that can be good and bad-- Neopets has a good reporting system, and you can block users from contacting you. But some people like to get around the rules and post links to inappropriate websites, so kids have to be pretty dang careful. In all, Neopets is a great website, but it's what you make it-- if you choose to spend hours on it a day and not utilise its reporting system, it's a bad thing. But if you play it in moderation and stay safe, it can be one of the best sites you'll ever play on!
Neopets
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Safe virtual pet site focuses on making money.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8–10
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Neopets was written by Jean Armour Polly and Heidi Kotansky
Parents need to know that this site begins with a kid adopting a virtual pet and collecting the local currency (Neopoints) to take care of him. The site promotes making and spending money -- from playing games to earn Neopoints to visiting the online story to buy real-life T-shirts, stickers, the Neopets magazine, and plush toys. Although the games cover everything from arcade action to anagrams, some feature gambling and betting. Kids can buy a Neopian lottery ticket and buy and sell virtual stocks. All bulletin boards are monitored and kids have to be 13 to post and are encouraged to be creative by submitting stories and drawings. The boards do have scammers wanting to hack into your account, so parents should talk to kids about never clicking on a personal URL in a board. There are a few banner ads, and Neopet owners can play games sponsored by corporations such as General Mills.
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 taking care of a pet. What's more important to give a pet -- a new coat or love and attention? Parents can also talk to their kids about the dangers of obsessing about money and gambling. What does it mean to gamble?
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More on Neopets
What’s the Story?
In NEOPETS.COM's online world, Neopia, players explore a variety of landscapes, which offer games and curious shops where you can "purchase" a magical potion, a virtual snack, or a book to read to your pet. The more pets read, the smarter they become, which is important in the pet's ever-changing statistical summary of abilities, strength, health, and other attributes. Neopets require regular feeding. To purchase food -- or anything else -- you must gain Neopoints. To build up a bank of Neopoints, pet owners play games. You can also apply for an online "job," which usually involves a scavenger hunt to purchase more items from other players. Another way to scrape up points is to auction unnecessary items or place them in your online store. More mature players might invest in the Neopian stock market. Among Neopia's many participatory options are free clubs ("guilds") that have their own discussions, giveaways, and player hints. You can also write stories for the newsletter, submit drawings, work on your pet's Web page, or post on the NeoBoards.
Is It Any Good?
Kids can get frustrated that they have to figure things out from other players. For example, you may learn on the boards that when the giant ice serpent sleeps the brave may sneak in and steal an item of his treasure. Also, there are players who scam other players out of their Neopoints and magical items, but a few third-party sites are combating this scourge.
On the positive side, messages posted on the boards are screened before they're posted, and those who break any rules will have their accounts frozen. Those younger than 13 aren't allowed to access the boards unless they've sent in parental permission.
Our Members Say
See all 201 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- Safety is an issue
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Safety isn't an issue
- User content is age appropriate
Amazing, but addictive!
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
I don't see a problem with this site being about making money; the real world is too. Younger children may have trouble on site, only because it takes a lot of reading. It's pretty safe, and most people should enjoy it.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Safety is an issue
- My highlights are:
- Safety isn't an issue
ar youer perents ther
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Educational
Prepares for real world.
The thing about this site is that it is almost like the real world. Earning neopoints to feed pets, buy clothes, decorate a neohome and get all the fancy extras sends a message. That message is you have to work for what you want and need. You need food for your pet and you want all the fancy items. Yes, you can get scammed out of items and neopoints, but that is only if you are not careful. Some people are tricked into giving out their passwords. Other people are tricked into thinking you are buying a super expensive item, but you are really just getting a look alike. But doesn't this also happen in the real world? And what better place to learn the basics of the real world where consequences aren't as great? I have been playing this site for a while, and I learned that if I want something, I have to work hard for it. I learned how to price check by looking at other shops before making my final decision. I believe this site was made to make children have an understanding of the real world. And if you ask me, that is pretty darn great.
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- User content is age appropriate
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Safety isn't an issue
Just a my thought about neopets..
Neopets are ok but i see some messages that are un positive, and somethings are too wierd and creepy, and i dont like it how you have to have Neocash to buy good things. but the safty isnt really a problem kids barely write bad things there and Neopets its a great way to let the time flow by! (i guess..)
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
Good for 8
It is totally safe and fun to play, but many ads and some violence are in this game. It is fun and addictive.
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Safety isn't an issue
- User content is age appropriate
Amazing, unlike any other
I have been on Neopets since 2005, and my brother since it first started. (My 9 year old niece even has an account) I absolutely love it! It's educational and the games are fun. I love the fact that you can dress, paint, and take care of a virtual pet. I've never found a website better then Neopets. They recently got a feature called "Neopets Jr." which is great for children. I've been a premium member before ($5 a month, and a great feature to have) and I have used the NC Mall (where you use real money to buy NC Cash) but you can easily go without both. Besides some ads, I see nothing wrong with the sight. The games are perfectly find, there's a few that do have bidding and gambling, but it's just a game. And the Stock Market is just a way to make more Neopoints. The members are nice, helpful, the boards are monitored by TNT (The Neopets Team) at all times, and filters keep out any inappropriate language. Over all, I highly recommend Neopets :)
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Safety is an issue
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- User content is age appropriate
Perfect for kids or pre-teens.
It gives you ideas if you want to register on a site and helps you decide. This is a reccomenended site.
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Safety isn't an issue
- User content is age appropriate
Fun
Fun fun good good fun fun happy happy fun fun!!
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
Safer than marapets, No bullying
The only problem with this is the messages for gambling and spending money. Its a very safe site with no bullying unlike marapets.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- User content is age appropriate
I love this website!!!I have been on neopets since i was four yrs old and I love the creatures.It does have alot of ads and they have a new store you use real money for but i still enjoy.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- User content is age appropriate
it's either very addicting, or very boring
When I first started neo like 4 years ago I was soooo addicted to it my parents had to literally pry me (when I say that I mean they ligitimently had to drag me into my room and lock the door). And then, after like two years I quite because it became so boring for me. But let me tell you, my life, from age 10-12 was completley wasted on this site. The like a year ago I got back on, made a new account, and now, here I am. I hope to be through with it for good but I know I will be back on. So in all, (These is one of my most least helpful reviews, but I wanted to share my expirience) neopets is an okay site but beware if you let your kids play because it's very, very, very, very, very addicting so make sure they know that they will regret what they did with their lives in the near future. I sure did. Oh, and btw, I only used neopets to chat on the message boards. And I have a faeire, shadow, tyrainnian (ty), cloud, and starry poogle. And it's compeltely totally and in all ways safe, no personal information is revealed. thank you for taking time to read my opinion. ~Poison Ivey!
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Safety isn't an issue
- User content is age appropriate
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
Viacom killed it.
Neopets used to be a nice, fun place. However, Viacom killed it by introducing the pay-features it was promised Neo would never have, as well as no way to attain these pay-to-get features with neopoints, such as on other sites. It isn't that the game itself is bad; it's just not good anymore.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Safety isn't an issue
I have been playing neopets for 6 1/2 years, the site it self is safe and very kid friendly, but the advertisements can be bad like "Is your layout ugly?" With a picture of the playboy bunny logo, or "EVONY Play Discreetly" with a woman with VERY LITTLE on, also neopets has gone down hill with making everythig invove them trying to get you to pay REAL money, they say you don't HAVE to but it makes it 500% better. anyway if your kid plays don't give neopets any money.
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Safety isn't an issue
Great for all ages.
Love it!
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Educational
Spammy, time-wasting, but fun.
This site - a time-waster, a money-burner, a ad-centered place, but fun. I've dabbled off and on over the years. The avatar-collecting, as I remember, was fun, as was the Battle Dome. The neoboards, however, were the best part of the site. You could chat cleanly and nicely with other users 13+. The "dailies" and the "money-earning" was stupid, though. And Viacom ruined it for everyone.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Safety isn't an issue
- User content is age appropriate
NEOPETS IS THE BEST!!!!
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Safety isn't an issue
- User content is age appropriate
Neopets.com=The best!
I personally love neopets.com because my kids can learn to care for a virtual pet and learn how to spend their money wisely.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 44% | of parents say they notice product placement |
| 39% | of parents feel the site is not safe |
| 33% | of parents say it's educational |
| 28% | of parents feel the site is safe |
| 28% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
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