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Tribe.net (http://www.tribe.net)

common sense media says

Local community-driven site lacks a filter.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that unlike the youth-centric MySpace.com, this social networking site has a more adult feel -- and a more local community feel. Postings for homes for sale by owner and parties at gay bars are advertised and the searchable groups discuss everything from the benign to the mature. Users can find "tribe" members with similar interests, join "tribe" groups, post photos and blog entries, and get great recommendations on restaurants, music, events, and shops. Members can flag inappropriate content but there's a lot of leeway for offensive photos and dialog to appear throughout the site.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: With posters hiding behind anonymity, users might find some hurtful comments directed at them. Still, the site provides a good experience for people willing to develop a community of like-minded individuals.
Violence: Some groups might be considered violent. For example, in the politics section, there are groups espousing anarchism.
Sex: While the site has a policy against posting sexually explicit images and content, there's an entire section devoted to groups interested in "romance and relationships" and some of these groups discuss sex.
Language: Cursewords such as "s--t" appear in group postings. There's no language filter to prohibit profanity.
Consumerism: There are ads for Web services and movies on the site.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Some of the groups discuss drinking and drug use.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

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What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about keeping safe online. Why is making friends over the Internet potentially dangerous? What kind of boundaries might a member of an online group maintain to ensure anonymity? What should one do when an online friend wants to exchange personal information or take the friendship offline?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Unlike other online communities, Tribe.net members do not use avatars; instead, each user's name accompanies a post and you can choose not to hide his email address, too. Personal pages may be viewed only by other members, and users may search for friends and invite others to join.

Parents would be smart to monitor their kids' use of Tribe.net. While it takes the virtual community to another level by letting users search for local, offline events and meet like-minded online users from around the world, there are areas that parents of under-18 users might find objectionable. A search of the site's groups, for example, found the following fare: "Fa-Dyke Dating Union," "Scientology Sucks," and "Booty Call." Plus, questionable material isn't prevented from appearing on the site -- and is deemed inappropriate only if a member, not the site itself, flags it.

This review was written by Lucy Maher
 
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age
Our child development rating guidelines