Alloy (http://www.alloy.com)

common sense media says

Celebs and shopping dominate fun but shallow teen site.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this ad-heavy site encompasses entertainment news, social networking, and lots of shopping -- there's an online store that sells clothes and accessories. The celebrity and fashion content is generally OK for pre-teens, but bad language and sexual topics sometimes pop up on the message boards. The site's tone can be a bit obnoxious in spots.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: Some fashion features make fun of "bad" clothing choices. User comments and message board discussions are a mixed bag -- some are friendly, some rude.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: There's some sexual slang and sexual topics on the messages boards.
Language: Four-letter words are censored in profiles, comments, and message boards. Some sexual slang words slip through on the message boards.
Consumerism: The store is prominently featured throughout the site. There are lots of ads, cross-promotions, and product pushes in editorial content.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Alloy

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the features that focus on "bad" fashion. Who decides what's "in" or "out?" What would you do if you liked something that wasn't in style or that your friends said wasn't cool? Where's the line between harmless fun and mean-girl behavior when it comes to evaluating style choices? Read our tips for battling stereotypes

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Packed with content, Alloy could keep some teens entertained for hours with its interactive elements and endless stream of celebrity gossip and fashion features. That said, it's a pretty shallow site that's sometimes too snarky for its own good. "Oh No She Didn't!" rips on unsuspecting strangers who've allegedly committed crimes of fashion and encourages readers to weigh in on a scale from "eww" to "of course." The entertainment features -- including interviews with both A-listers and up-and-coming artists -- are a better option.

This review was written by Susan Yudt
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

polly121
kid, 13 years old
 
I love it!

Amazing Kids
parent of 9 year old
 
A Shame
Why on earth would you name an obviously 100% commerical promotional website that pays teens to get their shopping opinions as one of the top Websites of the Decade??? How can you possibly think parents or other visitors will take you seriously in even giving this website the attention it so richly doesn't deserve?

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age