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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 16; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Collaborative reference: Research with caution.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Comprehensive reference covers conventional and unconventional topics.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Rigorous ethics guidelines are administered; vandals occasionally add hateful commentary to entries.
  • Violence:

    In general, searches limited to school topics are presented in an academic manner, but main entries may include links to iffy content on and off the site. Watch for less conventional topics including violent video games, gangs, and adult media of all types. Occasionally malicious contributors add violent content, which is usually, but not always, removed quickly.
  • Sex:

    Includes encyclopedic-type entries for porn stars, R- and X-rated movies, explicit song lyrics and more; same adult pages can include graphic images. Searches limited to school work and kid-specific media are safer, but entries may include links to other iffy content on and off the site. Occasionally malicious contributors add sexually inappropriate content, which is usually, but not always, removed quickly.
  • Language:

    Entries for topics including TV shows, films, video games, music, celebrities (and much more) may include inappropriate language (like video and song downloads with explicit lyrics and crass humor). Wikipedia entries that pass muster with parents may include links to other Wikipedia entries with bad language. Occasionally malicious contributors ruin entries by inserting bad language, which is usually, but not always, removed quickly.
  • Consumerism:

    Entries for commercial products; some external links lead to commercial-heavy sites.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Entries and associated content may include discussion and images of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Wikipedia.org

Parents need to know that everyone uses this evolving collaborative encyclopedia to do research. But, while the millions of topics include many well-researched, kid-friendly entries, they also include some kid-inappropriate ones. The site does sometimes monitor the material posted, but it's just so enormous that the potential for kids to stumble upon age-inappropriate -- or inaccurate -- text and photos is there. Entries can also include links to outside sites, and kids can post and receive unedited messages in the discussion areas.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the nature of a collaborative encyclopedia. Why is it important to use Wikipedia simply as a launching pad for more extensive research? Families can also talk about the ways to double-check a Wikipedia entry against more formal references. How do you navigate through such large amounts of information and find what's important?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0

    My Review

    Like all other socal and collaborative web sites there are occasionally pitfalls of things parents may find inappropreate. I think that with parental control it's safe for all ages

  2. Kid Reviewer
    Age 12
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Very good

    I love it no matter how dumb it is, and I don't usually search for inappropriate content. But why am I in NOT AGE APPROPRIATE? I shouldn't be. Does sex include if you were to do a research report on humans, and when you search for it, you look at the first image? I don't usually search for such crap like that. Our school allows us to use Wikipedia.

  3. Kid Reviewer
    Age 11
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    i go on it at school

  4. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0

    Good site

    If your child lands on an inappropriate page, it is entirely his fault. He either clicked on something or searched for it. It is a good source. And trust me (you can try it yourself) within 30 seconds of vandalizing/falsifying a page, it will be restored. It is a great source, but do not cite it for projects, look at the individual references.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 5.0

    inopropiate launguige

    i tiped in the f word and the article ezxits

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