 | ON: Content is age-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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
CartoonDollEmporium
Common Sense Media says
Glitzy dress-up dolls ooze bad female stereotypes.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this dress-up doll site touts itself as the number one online destination for girls ages 6-16, yet much of its content isn't appropriate for elementary school kids -- or even some older tweens. While the staff claims the site was created to foster creativity, many of the dolls that kids can dress up include tired, uncreative female beauty stereotypes: shirts with spilling cleavage and emaciated long legs in stiletto heels, for example. Banner ads flank the pages, and the games, content, and moderated bulletin boards are mediocre quality at best. One cool feature is the music section, where kids can listen to clips and learn more about some of today's hot tween artists.
What's it about?
"Dolls have always been about giving kids choices...these choices make an impact on how kids learn to socialize," the site reads. Launched in 2006, CartoonDollEmporium.com reportedly registers one billion hits a month. Creators say their site's philosophy of enlivening kids' creativity was inspired by Walt Disney. Some of the 650 doll images include a busty Paris Hilton, a "cute" Playboy bunny, a mean fight club gal, and a Britney/Kevin doll pair, along with a handful of dress-up images of famous, successful women outside of Hollywood, like Oprah, Rosie, and Hillary.
Is it any good?
The site is monitored 24/7, and it seems free from a lot of the problematic potty talk and scathing language found on other tween and teen sites. Yet the overarching stereotypical messages of women as busty, sexualized playthings doesn't move Barbie forward, and perhaps even a step back. While it's true Barbie has her heels and minis, the majority of dress-up outfits shown on this site are more appropriate for X-rated movies than Barbie, and many parents may find they don't want their girls influenced by these fashion choices. Clearly, dress-up dolls are still popular with young girls, whether in paper or cyber form. How that will impact their view of women's roles in the world is another question.
The commercial aspects of CartoonDollEmporium.com include multiple ads, both overt and hidden. Users must pay $6.99 a month to belong to the CDE fan club to get special benefits (access to special dolls, 100 CDE points a month). Better games, chats, and contests can be found elsewhere -- minus the stereotypes.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why most of the dolls for girls on this site have similar physical features. Is this how most women really look, or just how the media tells them they're "supposed" to look? What differences are present in the male dolls and the outfits you can choose for them, like Tiger Woods (whose wife's doll is listed under "accessories" along with Woods' golf bag)?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
MEAN!
I HATE IT!!!! TOO MUCH CUSSING!! THE STAFF AIBEE IS A MEAN B TO MY KIDS!! SHE BANNS PEOPLE A LOT!!! SHE ONLY LIKES ONE PERSON!! HIS NAME IS DANGEROUSSTORM AND HE HARASSED IAMGIRLYGIRL AND MORE LIKE MY DAUGHTER LIKE MAY88 AND SHERIE99!!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
LOG IN AT UR OWN RISK
90% of the girls (sometimes boys) on CDE take photos imitating stereotypes and that results in insta-fame. its weird. simply weird. i dont know where the trend started,but their parents are pissed for sure. and a kid being able to post just about everything about them is frightening. and when ur offline for like 4 months,theres a pack load of blogs about u and its creepy!!! (well at least if ppl are obssessed wit u) and i absolutely hate it!!!!! it ruined my lifeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they never leave me alone!!!! its like myspace,but one that ur parents think is OK but its NOT!!! kids shouldnt be allowed to post crap like this!!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
love it
really i do love this site i got my account this may and i get on it every day and if you want a kids input it IS DEFINITLY a websitye a 8 year old could get on its safe,fun,creative,and completely cool ive been on the site for a mouth and ive played with all the dolls and none of them are raunchy or "revealing" in any way i mean its a bra and belive it or not all girls wear them:o so i find nothing bad about this website and my mom even told me "it would be a good thing to have your own account on cde."and i told my friend to try it out and her parents thoght the same thing my mom did so yeah and any one who wants to see if it is safe that is if you don"t belive me my username is hisagi_shuhei69 ok.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Perfect for kindergarten to younger tweens.
I think this very fun site for small girls is great, but at nine or ten girls may out grow this fun and unique site and it's kid friendly fun.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
March 20, 2011
AGE
OI! SOOO DUMB I TRY TO MAKE AN ACCOUNT AND EVERY TIME I TYPE IN THE CODE THING ITS ALL LIKE...
'SORRY THAT DOES NOT MATCH!"
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Good Idea, Bad come out
This website has many fun games and you can create an avatar! But it has advertising,Player photos,and blogs, So therefor there be some bad because advertising can have you to buy things and bad content and players can upload bad behavior plus in blogs you can say bad things and tell people to do bad things. This website is fun, but i would recommend a parent over shoulder when using this website, unless you don't go for this i'd say 10+ Barely.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Iffy but fun..when you have good friends are rich and popular.
Its great. but i feel it is a Myspace/bebo/twitter/facebook e.g for under 18's. it is possible for the kids who use it to be found out where they live and stuff. people do swear sometimes when they are bullying you. and there are alot of ads,a
plus you have to buy a ppm for quite a few perks.And on the female dolls before you have dressed them, you can see inapropriate parts of the female body.and as quite a few boys go on it that is rude.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
iffy
this site is iffy even for people my age or below (13) alot of the dolls are nude and it kind of promotes the idea that girls are just here to look pretty
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
??
I see nothing wrong with this site. I'm a MEMEBR of this site. RAUNCHY dolls? where? it's not like the dolls are STARK NAKED. its a BRA. I wear one, most girls wear one believe it or not =O. The dollmakers work so hard on those dolls, youd never imagine. and MEDIOCRE FORUM?! I'm Sara...♥ on there, im a Junior Moderator. Please, you find a site with as much values as this one, let me know. i'd be HAPPY to see one. say this to the creators face, and get laughed out of the room. look into the forum a bit more, you'll take your comments to a more respectful level then.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
August 6, 2010
AGE
Great for tweens and teens
Great for girls who want to grow up and be a clothing designer, and or model!
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Genre: | Creating |
Contact us to give us more feedback on our learning ratings.
Review It
Tell us what you think about our new Learning Ratings. We value your feedback.
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already visited it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
