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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Filters don't prevent exchange of personal info.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Allows teens to hone their friendship-making skills online -- but it's also a place where being rude is easy as there are no real-life, face-to-face consequences.
  • Violence:

    Violent content isn't allowed, but creative posters may be able to sneak something in.
  • Sex:

    Blatant sexual content isn't allowed, but creative posters can alter word spellings. There's a lot of "U R a hottie" talk.
  • Language:

    Profanity isn't allowed, but creative posters can alter word spellings to sneak in a "fu" or something much worse.
  • Consumerism:

    Teens are encouraged to earn ZBucks to go shopping for their avatars. Members can use real-world cash to pay for virtual goods.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Zwinktopia

Parents need to know that although you have to be at least 13 to sign up on this popular social networking site, it's not appropriate for young teens. As they roam around the virtual world of Zwinktopia, kids can pick a place to go and chat with other avatars (or Zwinkies). Filters automatically replace bad words with "(bleep)," but there are ways around it -- typing "fu" instead of "f--k you" or "ssseeexy" instead of "sexy," for example. People can be harsh and say mean things or just simply walk away. They can also divulge personal information (age, location, MySpace page, e-mail address) in a matter of minutes. Teens are encouraged to earn ZBucks -- or use real-world cash -- to go shopping for their avatars. When they're not chatting, kids can also play harmless games that actually require a bit of concentration and hand-eye coordination in order to earn ZBucks -- a form of currency needed to buy your avatar new things.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about social networking safety. What kind of information should be off limits, and what's OK to tell people? How can you report someone who's being rude, abusive, or inappropriate?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0

    chezron

    dkuvas,dvuixvnzx vxn x vs,dvhxcvj,vhcvamdhuvaj,nb

  2. Kid Reviewer
    Age 10
    Anonymous
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 1.0

    i love you

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 1.0

  4. Teen Reviewer
    Age 17
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 1.0

    XF

    FEArffffffff c

  5. Teen Reviewer
    Age 17
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 1.0

    XF

    FEArffffffff c

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