Trollz.com

Poofy-haired teens aren't the best "troll" models.

Entertainment Value: Medium Graphics: Cartoons Playability: Easy to medium Reading Level: Medium Website: http://www.trollz.com

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this site features five teen girl trolls from the TV series who spend a lot of time talking about boys and fashion in between casting spells and fighting evil. Users have to register to do anything on the site, and registration requires an email address. Kids can communicate with each other via prescripted one-line greetings. There are tons of ads, links to other sites, and opportunities to earn fake money and buy Trollz gear. In several cases, McDonald's advertising masquerades as content. Most of what you can do on the site is related to fashion and beauty and to spending "trollars" (virtual money).

Families can talk about how this site fits into the Trollz marketing scheme. How does the site encourage you to buy stuff, both real and virtual? Can you enjoy the activities without owning any of the Trollz gear? Since Trollz is based on a toy line, this might be a good opportunity for parents to educate their kids about how some media titles are pretty much just product marketing vehicles.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Susan Yudt

Remember those ugly-cute troll dolls with wrinkled faces and poofy hair? They've grown up (maybe a bit too fast), gotten a makeover, and started their own multimedia empire -- including the Web site TROLLZ.COM. The Trollz are pretty obsessed with beauty, fashion, and consumerism, and on their site, you can be too: Create an avatar, and then use your "trollars" to buy clothes and accessories, get a new hairdo, and decorate your Troll Pad. You can earn trollars by playing games on the site or entering promotional codes off of Trollz products.

There are a lot of prompts to buy Trollz gear, and many of the quizzes and games are based on Trollz books and DVDs -- so if this is your first time in Trollz territory, you won't make the grade. Some of the stand-alone games and quizzes are fun, though, and even educational. In the arcade, you'll find challenging word searches, memory games, and strategy puzzles, or head over to Trollz High for a pop quiz in history, science, and other subjects. But one thing ... Why is the Amphitheater showing episodes of Punky Brewster?!

Tween fashionistas can get more creative on Girlsense.com and MissOandFriends.com.

Reviewed: 03/18/2008

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content The Trollz wear skimpy outfits -- mini-skirts and belly shirts.
Violence
Language Kids can only communicate with each other via prescripted one-liners.
Message
	Social Behavior The site (and some of the Trollz) are very focused on fashion and beauty. Friendship is emphasized, but the characters often give each other attitude ("shut up!", "as if!").
	Commercialism There are tons of ads, and many of them look like the Trollz content, so it's easy to get confused. Some of the games and activities promote McDonald's (e.g., collect the "Happy Meal" tokens in the maze). There are lots of opportunities to buy things.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco
	Educational Value Some of the games are educational, like word searches and math puzzles, but most of the activities are just fluff.