GiantHello (http://www.gianthello.com/)
common sense media says
Facebook-lite gets a lot right, but watch out for games.
parents & educators say
- 30% say safety or privacy is an issue
- 30% say they noticed product placement
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that GiantHello is a lot like Facebook, only with much more attention to safety and privacy concerns for young people. This online social network for kids 7 to 17 (formerly known as Facechipz) requires parental consent for kids under 13, and it's a closed network. Kids can only communicate with people they have invited as friends, via email or a code printed and delivered in person. Parents should be aware that the games section (public, no registration needed) includes ads as well as some violent and sexual content.
Educational value:
Provides a good, safe introduction to the ins and outs of social networking, uploading photos, and basic digital media skills.
Violence:
Overall, this is not a violent site, but kids who play fighting games (like Bloody Rage 2 and Mob Street Fighter) will encounter violence.
Sex:
Some of the dress-up and adventure games feature models and characters with tight clothing, short skirts, cleavage, etc. For example, in iPirate a woman shows lots of cleavage, and instead of pants wears a strategically placed belt. Also, because kids can freely communicate on this site (there are no pre-scripted messages), the type of content in the communication between GiantHello friends would be highly variable, depending on whom your child chooses to friend.
Language:
The site has a language filter that captures some -- but not all -- profanity. And again, because kids can communicate freely for the most part, the language will vary depending on whom they're communicating with.
Consumerism:
Most games include ads. The ads are identified by a disclaimer, but you have to watch them to get to the game, and some of them link to other sites (such as game sites). There are also fan pages devoted to a variety of consumer brands, such as Reese's, Chipotle, and Nintendo Wii.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Not promoted on the site; not likely to be an issue unless friends talk about it in their communication.
Privacy & safety:
Users cannot have their postings (writing or images) picked up by search engines, meaning their photo won't pop up on Google images for any reason. Also, to friend someone you need to either enter their email address or print a code to give them in person, as there is no way to search for a specific user.
Anyone can create an account, but kids under 13 need parental consent to do things like add friends, upload photos, and chat. Once parents create an account (verified via social security number or a credit card), they can monitor whom their kids are friends with and suspend or delete accounts. Kids 13 and up need no parental consent to register.
More on GiantHello
Review It
Based on 10 parent & educator reviews:
- 30% say safety or privacy is an issue
- 30% say they noticed product placement
Most useful reviews by all members
bobsax
parent of 12 year old
parent of 12 year old
I'm very suspicious of this site.
The user agreement is long and confusing but I did find a s part that says they can raise the fees and then kick you out if you don't pay.
Service Fees
Currently the FaceChipz* website Service is provided to you for one dollar, however at some point FaceChipz may require you to pay additional fees to use certain services. In advance of any changes to the Service we will post those rates and payment terms within the Terms of Service as well on the relevant pages of the Website. If at such time, you decide not to pay for a fee-based service, you will not be able to continue using the Service, and your child’s account could be deleted.
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scarlettC
kid, 10 years old
kid, 10 years old
Fantastic
If you dont want to let your children on twitter or facebook, i would recomend this. It has no swearing, bad content, violence. The only downside is that your children can see twitter pages, but only the person who owns the page, your child can see only their comments.
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agcrocks1234
kid, 10 years old
kid, 10 years old
PERFECT WEBSITE!!!
I LOVE this website!! I cant have facebook so now i have this!!
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Cool Kidz
adult
adult
Not a perfect system
scary. why trust an imperfect system when your kids are concerned. its not OK to be networking online unless you are of an appropriate age. too many pitfalls.
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9001
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Iffy for ages 10-17
This sounds like a great site, and most certainly a lot safer and cleaner than facebook, but you could still be exposed to something inappropriate depending on the people you talk to.
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Kakaroy
kid, 13 years old
kid, 13 years old
Wow
There could be inappropriate stuff on it, because it's on the internet. Really, saftey is an issue. Two reasons:
1.People could hack into your account.
2. What happens if one of your friends throws the code away or loses it? Who knows what hooligan could pick it up?
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Jbsgirl
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
definetly little kids
Why dont peoople make a site for 12 - 14 year olds that is like face book this is good for little kids like my sister who is 9 but not me...
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nonomom
parent of and 1 , 11 , 14 , 15 year old
parent of and 1 , 11 , 14 , 15 year old
Don't buy it.
My children Bengamyn, Eddward, and Izabela, (charley's too young!) went on face chipz and found out that you had to pay $1 to enter, I was mad. No one will pay $1 for a stupid website. Do not pay it trust me it will be stupid.
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VelvetGirl353
kid, 11 years old
kid, 11 years old
WHY DOES THIS WEBSITE ASK FOR YOUR INFO?
Why does this website ask for your social security number or credit card number? My parents don't like it asking for your personal stuff.
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laurawalker
kid, 11 years old
kid, 11 years old
besswax trouble
I hate all the violent that has been going around, its stupid and dumb. I hate the sexual behaviors. I was watching "Acess Hollywood" last night and they were saying that being gay is bad . When its not maybe its just what they do for a living. And besides why do they have to get in other peoples beeswax!When its not even there beeswax!But i think gay is weird but i'm just 9 years old! so ..........,.....
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undergurl
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
I have one and I wish I could friend ppl but, ti wont send me the frickin' e-mail allowing my account to be comfirmed, so i can't add friends or that cool stuff.
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rapsep
kid, 10 years old
kid, 10 years old
its great has games you can chat with friends decorate your profile you can not go to profiles that you don't know the person or chat with some one don't know and the way you get friends is to personally hand off or e-mail the code
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scdaat10
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
Giant hello perfect for YO! :) :)
In ways I think this is fine for my age because my parents don't allow me to have a facebook so this is cool and i think it's educational because it gives kids the freedom to say some inappropriate things bhut there parents can see it plus they can't delete so it will be stuck there forever and that means the kid will feel bad about it!
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Musicmelody26
kid, 10 years old
kid, 10 years old
Like the new facebook but comparing the qualities facebook has a teen/adult content source and giant hello is like facebook but for younger ones but not too young.
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japanesetiger
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
Great!
I love it! it is sooo cool and b/c i cant get a face book this is what i turned to. im surious its like a mini facebook!!! and you cant have friends unless your reallife bff give you the code! very safe:-)
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