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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.

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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Our Members Say

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See all 90 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Do not trust Wikipedia

    Wikipedia is not an okay site to use. What anyone should know is that anyone can go onto Wikipedia and change the content on it. Although some content might be true, it is possible to find information that is fictional. Whenever I have projects I never use Wikipedia. Only use information from there if you know it is true. You should stick to websites that have a suffix of: ".org" ".edu" or ".gov" and just like many sites on the web, there are some bad words on Wikipedia that children should not read about.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Wyoming
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • User content isn't age appropriate

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    An ok site...............................

    A pretty good reference site, be cautious Wikipedia isn't too reliable. Pretty good info and research stuff. Foul language is a small issue, To avoid lots of stuff Just watch your search results! .........Not a bad site!

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    This website can contain things that are too mature for younger people. Even the word "F**K"can be used. (By age 12 people should know that word.)

  4. I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • User content isn't age appropriate

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • User content is age appropriate

    Wikipedia is a site too many have become reliant on, even though it is a fan published site. Only accept information if 100% correct. Try Wookieepedia for Star Wars fans!

  5. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • User content isn't age appropriate

    I'm really surprised this would be considered a "homework helper". What parents really need to know is that all the items on Wikipedia are user-generated. While some of the material on the site may be factual, other items are not. Still more items are heavily slanted due to the biases of the individuals who wrote the wiki entries. Students, especially college-bound students, need to be told that Wikipedia should only be used as a jumping off point. It's one thing to use it as a starting place to generate ideas and find initial sources, but in most cases, it should not be used as the primary source for a paper. Students need to be taught how to evaluate online sources and in most cases high schools are not doing a good enough job so those early college papers come as a rude awakening.

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