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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Safe virtual world is still about buying stuff.

On this site kids can:   chat, do activities, play in a virtual world
updated 09.13.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

  • User-created content:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The site promotes fashion, shopping, the color pink, and other stereotypical girl pursuits. In contrast to some other girl-oriented sites, it doesn't offer any empowering messages that would lead girls to value themselves outside of the world of beauty and fashion, i.e. anything that requires brain power.

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Girls must own a Barbie Girl MP3 player ($60) in order to have access to certain things on the site such as adopting a pet and Secret B Chat. Kids can also play games to earn virtual money. There are opportunities to spend real cash on products (although you have to be 18 to do so). The V.I.P. section costs $6 a month or $36 for six months.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

How safe is it?

  • Personal privacy:

    The site has sound privacy rules designed to prevent girls from revealing their identities.

  • Online interaction:

    Three levels of chat offer various levels of restricted, safe chat. The site is well moderated.

  • Parental controls:

    The site makes a strong effort to work with parents and give them a lot of control over their kid's account. Parents can update their daughter’s account, manage their daughter’s chat status, receive email updates on new features, and create a Smart Pact that lets you create household rules on computer usage.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About BarbieGirls

Parents need to know that Mattel has gone to great lengths to make this girl-centric world a safe place to be. Chatting is monitored and special filters in the public rooms prevent personal information from being shared. The bad part is that girls are encouraged to embrace all things Barbie from fashion/beauty (choose an avatar's hair, eyes, clothes, and accessories), consumerism (go shopping), and home décor (pick a room's bed, walls, and furniture). Many of the goodies available online to girls who earn B bucks (virtual money) and a secret chat with preapproved friends are only unlocked with the Barbie MP3 player ($60 to buy). Though no ads are shown on this site, girls can earn B bucks or special codes by purchasing (with real cash) more Barbie products.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about whether Barbie is a true representation of a girl. Do most girls look like Barbie? Families can also discuss the importance -- or lack thereof -- of being trendy and always having a new outfit to show off. Is it important to run out and buy the new hip shirt or pair of pants?
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See all 87 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 7
    punky341
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Safety is an issue

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

    membership

    cool but i wish that membership vvas free

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    pooh1999
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Negative message

    • My highlights are:
    • User content is age appropriate

    kind

    i love it.....

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    graciechafe
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • User content isn't age appropriate

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .. .........................................

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    graciechafe
    I rate this title on and give it 0.0

    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    graciechafe
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Safety is an issue

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    LOVE

    I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind (1)
    Flag as inappropriate

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