YouthNoise.com

Social networking with a global issues bent.

Entertainment Value: n/a Graphics: Photos and videos Playability: Easy Reading Level: Heavy Website: http://www.youthnoise.com

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this global social networking site doesn't pull any punches when it comes to discussing social and political issues. There are forums, chat rooms, message board, videos, information about local politics, and "channels" filled with news, debates, and resources dedicated to different causes such as violence, poverty, and religion. The content and discussions are frank and real which makes it a great place for activism-minded kids and young adults.

Families can talk about each of the real issues that teens face that the site covers from safe sex to environmentalism. Do you think you should have sex before getting married? How much should the minimum wage be? How does racial profiling contribute to terrorism? You can also talk to your kids about how they can use the resources on the site to become more involved citizens by turning their interests into actions to make the world a better place.

Rate It!

Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Angela Freeman

Many teens are passionate about changing the world, but don't know where to start. That's where YOUTHNOISE.COM -- a nonprofit social networking site devoted to global issues and activism -- comes in. Teenagers and young adults can learn about social activism, get involved with a cause, receive world news tailored to them and their interests, or just talk with others about issues they care about. The site is not for little kids, and sometimes not for the faint of heart. Real social issues are tackled with maturity and clarity, from sex education to child labor to terrorism.

The site's content is organized into 15 channels spanning religion, war, media, health, and more. Personalizing your profile with your causes of choice means you can go directly to the information that interests you most. Each topic page has links to outside organizations and articles, but the real draw is user-generated content.

Users (also known as NoiseMakers) can communicate with others via blogs or message boards, where topics range from global relief efforts to war (one board offers a place to send a message of support to kids whose parents are stationed in Iraq). Moderators are trolling the site 24/7 and supposedly anything that's considered intolerable is flagged and deleted.

CitiJos (citizen journalists) are youth correspondents who contribute cause-specific coverage of real-life events such as Martin Luther King, Jr., celebrations or anti-war rallies. CitiJo content ranges from video interviews with local politicians to essays on the personal-turned political, like one teen's struggle with intolerance of her homosexuality.

Other features offer not just information, but a call to action. For example, one area of the site is called "Just-1-Click" -- where simply clicking on a link donates a penny to a different cause each month, from the Save Darfur Coalition to Habitat for Humanity. Or check out the "Legislative Action Center," where users can learn about local politics and send a message to their elected officials.

The amount of content offered on YouthNoise is staggering, and very little of it is filler, but tech-savvy budding activists should have no problem navigating through it, especially if they use the personalization features to drill down to their favorite causes.

Younger activists might enjoy GlobalGang.org.

Reviewed: 02/12/2007

Rate It!

Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Contains user-submitted content that's sometimes graphic and has frank discussions of sexual issues, both personal and political.
Violence There's honest information about political issues. Contains user-submitted content that's sometimes graphic (videos of clubbed seals, for example).
Language What you'd expect with user-generated content. Moderators are trolling the site 24/7 and supposedly anything that's considered intolerable is the flagged and deleted.
Message
	Social Behavior The site encourages kids to learn about and speak their minds about the environment, politics, homelessness, war -- whatever issues teens face. More than that, it urges kids to turn their interests into action.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Message boards contain information about drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, but in an educational context.
	Educational Value Offers an excellent resource for kids and young adults to learn about social and political issues, and how they can make a difference in the world.