www.faketown.com)

common sense media says

This unmonitored online world has real problems.

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that users "self-govern" this unmonitored virtual world and social networking site, but it doesn't seem like anyone's governing anything in this sexually charged and confusing town. Not to mention, users can post anything about themselves -- including full name and age, as well as photos -- and if they don't restrict their profiles, everything is available to everyone. While creating, buying, and selling virtual products may be an educational exercise in business skills, members use real money to buy online coins.

Educational value: While creating, buying, and selling virtual products may be an educational exercise in business skills, this site is clearly inappropriate for most teens, even though it's open to them.

Positive messages: This site is supposed to be a "synthetic world" where users buy, sell, and trade virtual products, including houses that they can design and "build." Tools to build stuff are free, but once you want to save them on the site, you have to pay with "fake coins" using a real credit card.

Violence: This site isn't monitored for content. One user created an avatar-type image of "my ex-girlfriend" with wounds and blood streaming down her face.

Sex: At registration, users can choose from a man or woman avatar -- who are completely naked and anatomically correct. Users can buy and sell stuff, including real photos of girls in bras, posing suggestively. One user asked if another had a photo with "no bra...I'd prefer naked." Sexual language bantered about as well.

Language: Swearing and rude, sexual language. For example, "Come to da booty house and get some p---y."

Consumerism: Besides buying the fake coins with real dollars, this site is loaded with professional music videos and people hyping their stuff.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: None observed.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about safety on social networking sites and why a site might not be so safe for young teens even though they're allowed to use it. Our Top Ten Tips for Kids for Viral Media is a great resource, but these questions should get the conversation started: What information should you include in your profile, and what should you leave out? What can you do if you feel like someone is bullying you or wants to meet you in person?

Is it any good?

The premise may sound like educational fun, but the reality of this unmonitored site is a cluttered landscape with loud music videos, as well as some rude language, suggestive photos, and senseless consumerism. And, it may be confusing for teens that this site uses a mix of avatar-style graphics and real-life video and photos. Parents should spend some time in this fake community before deciding to give some real money to their teen to "live" here.

This review was written by Dana Villamagna

Review It

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

AlexandraT2000
parent of 10 year old

fine

love it

What other families should know

Faketown (http://www.faketown.com)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Faketown

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Review It

Review Faketown

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

fine

faketown

kaylee

10-17

Awesome website

i am above my self

Banned

i cant get into it

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