 | 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. |
GiantHello
Common Sense Media says
Facebook-lite gets a lot right, but watch out for games.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
What kids can learn
GiantHello wasn't created with educational intent, and we don't recommend it for learning.
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoning
- Creativity
- Self-Direction
- Emotional Development
- Communicationfriendship building
- Collaboration
- Responsibility & Ethics
- Tech Skillssocial media
- Health & Fitness
What's it about?
Giant Hello is a social networking site for kids too young for Facebook. The focus of the site is on playing games and interacting with real-life friends. Since it's aimed at the tween crowd, social networking is highly safeguarded and kids are only able to send or receive friend requests from people they know, after their own account has been approved by a parent. To connect with someone on Giant Hello, a coded message is sent via personal email or hand delivered -– kids are never able to contact or be contacted by strangers. Celebrities and pop culture play a prominent role through fan pages, and there is also noticeable consumerism -- Teen Vogue, Wii, and McDonalds all have popular fan pages. For kids, the games -- racing, dress-up, action, etc. -- may be the biggest draw.
Is it any good?
Overall, GIANTHELLO succeeds as a relatively safe Facebook alternative for tweens. It even provides kids with a letter to print for their parents that promises they'll stay off Facebook until they are 13 if they are allowed to get a GiantHello account. Cute. But although the site is geared toward kids as young as 7, if they venture into the games section they can encounter ads and content unsuitable for young kids. Still, it's a good alternative for tweens whose parents are OK with the iffy content.
Online interaction: Kids are only able to interact online with GiantHello friends they have invited. Communication is in the form of commenting, messaging, and chat. But users cannot edit or delete comments once they've posted them, so they should use caution.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace and whether they guard the safety of kids, especially kids under 13. Check out Common Sense Media's Facebook for Parents tipsheet.
Start the habit of getting involved early by asking your child if you could be one of their friends on GiantHello. Read why all parents should have a Facebook or MySpace page if their teen does in Common Sense Media's Social Networks and Teen Lives Parent Advice section.
Ask your younger child if it's more fun to play with their friends online or in person. What are some differences between online communication and face-to-face communication?
What kids can learn
GiantHello wasn't created with educational intent, and we don't recommend it for learning.
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoning:
- Creativity:
- Self-Direction:
- Emotional Development:
- Communication: friendship building
- Collaboration:
- Responsibility & Ethics:
- Tech Skills: social media
- Health & Fitness:
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Parent of 11 year old
May 24, 2010
AGE
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.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 13 years old
March 1, 2010
AGE
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.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 9 years old
April 30, 2011
AGE
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.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 12 years old
March 23, 2010
AGE
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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Adult
April 26, 2010
AGE
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.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 9 years old
April 30, 2011
AGE
PERFECT WEBSITE!!!
I LOVE this website!! I cant have facebook so now i have this!!
What other families should know:
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Parent of an infant, 10, 13, and 14 year old
May 18, 2010
AGE
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.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
June 5, 2010
AGE
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?
What other families should know:
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Kid, 9 years old
April 2, 2010
AGE
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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| Genre: | Social Networking |
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