Metacafe

Review

Common Sense Media says

Video site is older than YouTube but not as kid friendly.
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

AGE
13
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this free online video site is not a great choice for kids. Raunchy content can't be filtered and the site has as many commercials as network TV. Kids can't upload an unlimited number of videos to this premium site, which features "best of" content, nor can they make videos private like they can on YouTube. With supervision, kids can have fun watching the safe stuff on Metacafe -- singing dogs, PBS, and old TV shows like the Partridge Family and the like. But they can find all that and more on YouTube plus instantly share homemade videos with family and friends.

  • Positive messages1
    Like YouTube, the site is a grab bag of everything from  dreck like the Playboy Best Butt challenge to episodes of Biography, with plenty in between. The free-for-all certainly teaches kids freedom of speech, but parents will want to establish what they consider acceptable.   
  • Violence3
    Most videos on the site aren't violent but some are. Watch out for gory movie trailers, intense game demos, court-room beatings caught on tape, and disturbing clips such as the soccer player who collapses and dies on the field.
  • Sex4
    There's lots of adult-oriented material kids really shouldn't see. We found steamy movie and game previews, naughty Harry Potter parodies, ads for escort services, how-to sex tutorials and lots of naked flesh -- and that was with the Family Filter turned on. 
  • Language2
    The vast majority of clips are okay, but a few, mostly TV segments such as the Sarah Silverman Show, have crude language like f--k and a--hole. So do some of the unregulated public comments and forum posts.
  • Consumerism4
    There are ads everywhere you turn. Most of the products being advertised are G rated and the banners are tasteful, not junky-looking flash. However, searches can turn up related Google ads that are X-rated, and most of the videos on the site are preceded by long annoying commercials that put an awful lot of product placement in the user's way. In one hour of surfing we must have sat through the same 30-second Mucinex spot at least a dozen times. 
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    TV and movie clips that parody or treat these bad habits matter-of-factly seem to outnumber the educational videos.
  • Privacy & safety3
    Privacy is pretty good, although not as good as YouTube's. The only personal info users are required to share is an email address, and that's only if they want to upload their own videos. Users can remove their own videos from the site at any time. However, they can't take back comments or choose who can see their videos. All submissions, if accepted, are public. Parents might reasonably conclude from all the ratings and filters that they have some control over what kids view but alas, as with most other video sites, they do not.  Kids can watch any video, even those rated 13+ or 18+ for mature viewers. The so-called Family Filter works about as well as YouTube's minor filter; in other words, not at all judging from the nudity and foul language that sails right through.
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Is it any good?

 

Metacafe has been around two years longer than YouTube yet has only a fraction of the content, not to mention popularity. What gives? Not a video-sharing site, Metacafe is a video "destination" that separates the good stuff from the chaff and features only the best user-uploaded videos. While the quality claim is debatable -- the selection looks a lot like YouTube's only skimpier -- handsome Metacafe does have a much more elegant look, while YouTube still has that stripped-down Craig's List vibe. But that's where the advantages end, at least for families. Metacafe's content filter is useless -- unless you happen to think soft porn is fine family fare.  And Metacafe has no privacy option for users who don't want the whole world seeing their clips. The site's endless commercials could drive anyone batty. Sleek and well organized and worth a look if you're an adult out for a little video entertainment? Yes indeedy. But Metacafe can't compete with the people's choice of YouTube.

Online interaction: Users can flag objectionable videos and comments but there are no special protections for kids.  Comments are usually civil but can be lewd, depending on the video being discussed. The site doesn't monitor emails between users.
 

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What families can talk about

YouTube is one of the most popular Internet sites of all time and for good reason. Watching and uploading videos can be enormous fun, especially for kids, but not all YouTube content is harmless, so parents should supervise as necessary. Common Sense has put together several guides to help parents and kids get the most out of YouTube.  Help gradeschoolers manage their YouTube use. Guide your kids’ digital media creation efforts, and stay on top of what your teens are doing on YouTube.

This review was written by Carla Thornton
Kid, 10 years old
September 15, 2010
AGE
2
 
bad
no dont go on there
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Helped me decide (7) | Had useful details (4) | Read my mind (11)
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
November 27, 2009
AGE
17
 
Youtube is definitely not for kids, and Metacafe is worse.
Unlike youtube, the porn and sexually explicit videos are not restricted. All you have to do is click a button confirming you are 18+. No restriction.
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Helped me decide (9) | Had useful details (7) | Read my mind (6)
Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
June 26, 2010
AGE
13
 
CSM?
I don't like CSM, it makes me say dirty words i wouldn't go there with anyone who is not a teen.
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Helped me decide (5) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (8)
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
June 26, 2010
AGE
13
 
CSM?
I don't like CSM, it makes me say dirty words i wouldn't go there with anyone who is not a teen.
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (5) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (8)
Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 11 years old
June 26, 2010
AGE
13
 
CSM?
I don't like CSM, it makes me say dirty words i wouldn't go there with anyone who is not a teen.
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (5) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (8)
Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 11 years old
March 20, 2011
AGE
11
 
iffy for 11-16
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Helped me decide (6) | Had useful details (7) | Read my mind (7)
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Teen, 17 years old
May 31, 2010
AGE
15
 
Bad site
This site is a lot worse than YouTube or Livevideo. Any person can lie about their age and see something nasty.
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Helped me decide (4) | Had useful details (4) | Read my mind (12)
Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 11 years old
October 5, 2010
AGE
15
 
Keep than darn family filter on!
Very explicit site. Just gotta click your 18+. Pretty bad. Go on with an adult near.
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Helped me decide (6) | Had useful details (6) | Read my mind (6)
Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
February 14, 2012
AGE
18
 
Kids Dont Play This Junk or Crappy stuff
this is for 13 year olds?ha ha this makes me laugh not really this is adult stuff see people naked that,s gross i wanna vomit if that happended dont play this sg or so gross mom and dads and parents never play it oh my sick of this games people make safe games for kids we are just kids please help us
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This review was written by Carla Thornton
Genre:Video Sites
This review was written by Carla Thornton

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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.
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