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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Grab bag of indie rock news for hipster teens can be dark.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–16

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Since the site focuses on independent and alternative music, plus user-submitted content, there is a diverse blend of photography, blogs, videos, and reporting on the site that can be very creative and inspiring -- especially for budding artists.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Band videos tend to be wild, and user-submitted content can be intense (like photos of models with blood on their faces). There are also lots of discussions about the "rock star" lifestyle, which includes casual sex, drinking, and hard partying.

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Some users discuss sexual themes and flirt with each other. Also there is a lot of discussion about bands, particularly boy band members and their attractiveness to female fans.

  • Language:

    Expletives can be found throughout the online community forums and in the band videos. However, content provided by the site seems to steer clear of four-letter words and censors them when used in interviews.

  • Consumerism:

    Plenty of ads on this site, mainly promoting music groups. Some of the ads look very similar in design and graphics to the regular Web site content, so it can be confusing to users what is content and what is an advertisement. The I Want That! feature reviews products that teens might like and the Style department dishes about where to shop.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    There are references to drinking in some videos and since users can submit their own content, you might find iffy stuff.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Buzznet

Parents need to know this site is designed for teens and young adults interested in the indie rock scene. Edgy content, like raucous band interviews and in-your-face photography is too mature for tweens. The member's forum users post freely and the conversations can get flirty or in-depth. Watch out for the links to other Web sites, like Vampire Freaks and The Gauntlet (a hardcore metal music fan site).

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the Internet has helped create a flourishing independent music scene. Do you think Web sites, such as this one, add to the appeal of indie music? Also, how do you think this site has combined platforms from various other sites, like MTV and Facebook. Do you think this site successfully combines social networking with music coverage? Are you inspired to upload videos of your band?
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