DotBlu

Review

Common Sense Media says

Social "gaming" site is all about betting.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the main activity on this social gaming site is betting (with virtual currency.) The site prompts registered users to provide their email address and email password so that invitations can be sent to contacts. Users should avoid this by clicking "do it later" instead of entering their information.

  • Positive messages0
    In general, the community is friendly, but there are some hateful questions and comments: "who is the slutteyist bitch," "being gay is SICK."
  • Violence0
    Not applicable.
  • Sex3
    There are some questions about sex, like "who has the hottest body" or "who would you rather have sex with?" There's no outright nudity, but a few photos come pretty close.
  • Language3
    Some profanity in questions and comments, including f--k.
  • Consumerism4
    The point of the site is winning as many BluBucks as possible through betting and playing games. There are lots of ads and links to third-party sites. Users can buy tokens with real money, or can "earn" tokens by purchasing goods from outside sites or filling out surveys that disclose personal information.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Some users talk about getting drunk or high. "Gifts" include beers and glasses of champagne.
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What's it about?

Billed as "a community dedicated to friendly online competitive gaming," DOTBLU.COM is essentially a betting site minus any actual money. Users start with a set amount of BluBucks -- virtual currency -- and try to build up their bank by placing bets on different types of user-generated questions, and by creating questions and playing arcade games. There are "quizzes" and "predictions," which have factual answers, as well as "majority wins" questions, in which users cash in by voting with the crowd. BluBucks can be traded in for profile enhancements, and users can also purchase "tokens" with real money to access special features.

Is it any good?

 

Simply put, DotBlu.com can be engaging for people who enjoy gambling -- or weighing in on the Jonas Brothers. The questions are a mixed bag, running the gamut from "Am I hot?" to "Which Truman Capote classic is a true story?" Some users might enjoy the randomness, but a "sort by topic" feature couldn't hurt. Of course, regardless of the content, parents may not want their teens acquiring a taste for
gambling. Plus, the site allows users to "borrow" BluBucks while waiting to
collect on bets -- not the wisest practice in real life.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about why it's not a good idea to give out email passwords or friends' email addresses on sites like this. Families can also talk about how frequently placing bets -- even with fake money -- can become a bad habit.

This review was written by Susan Yudt
Adult
September 4, 2010
AGE
17
 
i say get it back
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This review was written by Susan Yudt
This review was written by Susan Yudt

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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