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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 16.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Friendly video bloggers; a few bad apples.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Encourages self-expression. Teens can learn Web skills by using Seesmic and its partner applications.

  • Messages:

    Save for the occasional jerk, users are friendly and positive.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    A few off-color videos. Nudity is prohibited.

  • Language:

    Not many users curse, but there are no restrictions on language.

  • Consumerism:

    No ads.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Seesmic

Parents need to know that Seesmic lets users record and upload videos via webcam or cell phone so they can have "video conversations" (blog-style -- not in real time). Users can post videos publicly or send them to friends and can delete their own videos. Most users are adults, and the community is friendly. However, the site is in its early stages and is still figuring out how to deal with the occasional rude or obscene video -- the topic is up for discussion in the community -- so users may stumble upon some unsavory stuff. The terms of service prohibit nudity and harassment, but there are no guidelines about other sexual content or profanity. The vast majority of videos are clean, though.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about potential drawbacks of posting videos online. Would teens feel uncomfortable knowing that thousands of people can see them? How do you know what's OK to post and what's not? Families can also talk about online communities. How do you know if you can trust someone enough to make them your "friend"? How would you deal with someone who's rude or offensive?
Tools and tips that can help

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