| 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. |
Parents need to know that you can build a profile on LolasLand.com, but it's all anonymous -- you're only identified by your screen name. Instead of letting users post their own snapshots, the site encourages safe social networking by having girls create a customizable avatar and upload pre-selected photos of things like cute animals. You need to register to set up a profile or jump around the various parts of the land, like Lola's Lounge. Girls supposedly need parental permission to join, but they can get immediate access by submitting their email and any email they claim is a parent's. All the site does is send parents a notification email letting them know that their child is using the site.
LOLASLAND.COM is based on the fictional character Lola Love, who has her own book series published by HarperCollins Children's Books. Funky lounge-like music rings out as you travel through the ultra-girlie, very pink site and take quizzes, read 'zine articles on topics like palm reading, and check out movie reviews. The site's currency is called Lola Bucks. You earn them by playing games and taking part in site activities. You can also buy furniture and other items to decorate parts of the online world. However, users won't get access to one section -- the Magic Garden -- for a while: Entry costs a whopping $171,500 Lola Bucks.
It's a little suspect that many of the featured fashion items come from the same places; that whole section feels kind of like a covert ad for UK-based stores like Topshop. But as virtual worlds go, this one is pretty impressive. There's plenty to read and do and some really cool effects, like the option to select sky themes including lightning and fireworks -- which can be changed from day to night with a flip of a virtual light switch.
The social networking aspect really is pretty safe. Users can add one another as friends, but interaction on the site is low; and to keep things clean, all status updates go through a language filter before being posted.
Families can talk about why it's a good idea to have just a username and not your real name for an online profile. Is it safe if you just use your first name? What other kinds of information should you think twice about before including it in a profile?
Contact us to give us more feedback on our learning ratings.
Tell us what you think about our new Learning Ratings. We value your feedback.