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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    1.0

  • Common Sense says

    Gossip blog about African-American stars is mean-spirited.

On this site kids can:   get news, post comments, watch videos

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 17–18

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

  • User-created content:

    Not an issue.

What to watch out for

  • Online interaction:

    Some of the forum discussions are friendly and positive, but the comments on posts are largely focused on tearing down celebrities (and sometimes other commenters).

  • Messages:

    Not all of the content is negative -- there are some posts that celebrate celebs' talents or discuss ways they're contributing to the community. But the good stuff is overshadowed by some really vile content. There are posts that "out" celebrities and mock people's appearances ("This over sized tangerine fruit was spotted at an ATL event"). And the site spreads unsubstantiated and hurtful rumors -- like the allegation that Chris Brown hit Rihanna because she gave him herpes.

  • Violence:

    Covers news about violent crime.

  • Sex:

    Pretty graphic sex talk ("my p---y" is up on D's stick") and discussion of technique. Lots of very sexual photos but no total nudity, although one post shows naked photos of a celebrity (which were leaked to the press) with the genital area obscured.

  • Language:

    Stronger curse words are censored in the forums, but anything goes in the comments, including "motherf---er," explicit sexual slang, and even some hate speech.

  • Consumerism:

    Lots of ads, including a pop-up; has a store that sells T shirts. Promotes celebrity culture but doesn't necessary promote materialism.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some mentions of pot, cocaine, and other drugs in stories. "Henny without any coke" -- the site's tagline -- refers to Hennessey liquor.

How safe is it?

  • Personal privacy:

    Users who register can email other users, but email addresses are kept private in this exchange.

  • Parental controls:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Bossip was written by Susan Yudt

Parents need to know that Bossip is a gossip blog that reports on black celebrities in the news. Unfortunately, a lot of the coverage is dedicated to hating on those celebs and spreading nasty rumors, à la PerezHilton. There's lots of strong language, sex talk, homophobia, and stereotypes about gender and race. Teens looking for harmless gossip about their favorite stars should go somewhere else.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about why people are so obsessed with reading about celebs' bad behavior. Do you think stars who appeal to kids and teens have a responsibility to be role models? Why or why not?
  • Families can talk about gossip and rumors. How can you determine if the site you're on is a reliable source of information? What would you do if someone started a hurtful rumor about you or one of your friends? Parents can caution teens against the pitfalls of "oversharing" on social sites.
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More on Bossip

Is It Any Good?

Billed as “gossip for the hardcore,” BOSSIP is a frequently updated blog that focuses mainly on black celebrities. You could describe the site as a guilty pleasure -- admittedly, it's sometimes fun to read salacious stuff about stars -- if it wasn't so quick to mock people for being overweight, gay, “slutty,” etc. There's some good stuff -- exclusive photos, videos, and interviews -- but it's largely eclipsed by Bossip’s bullying approach.
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