www.nick.com)

common sense media says

Games, videos, ads, and links to inappropriate content.

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this site is the TV channel Nickelodeon's home on the web. It has a huge library of harmless, fun games that are occasionally educational, but mostly arcade-like, as well as a virtual world called the Club. It's important to note that ads run amok on this site -- from banner ads to streaming video commercials to pop-ups with hard-to-see close buttons. The ads are distracting and make cleverly designed activities difficult to find and appreciate. Once on this site, kids can have access to any Nick show, movie, sister site -- anything Nick, for that matter. But parents -- once on the site, kids also have access to other sites owned by Viacom, including AddictingGames.com, which has sexual and violent content. Your kids may not look down in the footer, but if they do, there is nothing that restricts access to sites geared toward older teens.

Educational value: Meant to entertain rather than educate.

Positive messages: NickJr.com is home to many different TV shows, so messages vary.

Violence: Kids have access to all the Nick shows -- some of which contain cartoon violence. Moreover, the links at the bottom of Nick.com's pages link to sites like AddictingGames.com, which has some violent games.

Sex: There are links on the bottom of Nick.com to sites like AddictingGames.com that have sexual content.

Language: The Club, Nick's virtual world, uses language filters.

Consumerism: There are lots of kid-targeted ads for everything from food to TV promos to music to PG-13 movies. There are also sponsored links, which are links related to the search terms you typed. In some areas of the site, it'll warn you before an ad plays.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

Privacy & safety: Some privacy concerns. While the site does not require users to submit personally identifiable information to register, it may request personally identifiable information for some activities on the site. The site also uses cookies, beacons, and other technologies to track visitors' online behavior. Parents can ask to review any
identifiable information the site collects about their child, have this
information deleted, and/or request that there be no further collection
or use of their child's information. (Nick.com takes steps to verify the identity of anyone requesting
information about a child and to ensure that the person is in fact the
child's parent or legal guardian.)

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

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about their favorite Nick TV shows and how they are represented online. Does the online content make you enjoy the show more? They can also discuss how to tell the difference between an ad and actual content. Why do you think the lines are blurred?
Families can talk about advertising and the effects it has on themselves and on their kids. How can you tell when a site is trying to sell to kids or to their parents?
Families can also talk about setting computer time limits so kids get a balance of activities, both online and off, in their day.

Is it any good?

Buyer beware: NICK.COM advertises heavily on this site. With every new page, banner ads run at the top and side of the screen, streaming videos and commercials run to the right side of the screen, and internal website feature ads run in the middle of the screen. The latter is especially distracting as they are animated and cycle through different ads that kids have to scroll past to see all the buttons for each section. Commercials and ads not related to Nick.com are touting products that are unhealthy, such as sugar-filled cereals and snacks. If kids click on the Shop button in the main toolbar, they're taken to a different site to shop for Nick-related books, videos, toys, games, and clothing. However, hidden under advertisements and sketchy and overwhelming navigation are some valuable ways for kids to creatively participate in different activities.

But the most troubling part of the site is buried at the bottom in the footer. There kids can have unrestricted access to sites like AddictingGames.com, which has games with violent and sexual content.

Online interaction: Users interact in the Club, Nick's virtual world, as well as on bulletin boards. Chat in the Club uses a dictionary screened by Nick, as well as what the site calls a "Dirty Phrase Checker."

This review was written by Dana Cotter

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What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Smart Rater
kid, 9 years old

Nice for kids

Pretty good however, there is violence but strangely, there is some math games and grammar games

What other families should know

Nick (http://www.nick.com)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Nick

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

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Review Nick

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Nice for kids

Nick* is not safe.

It was OK- I got lost a ton!

Seems Decent

Meh, tis fine

pritty good site

Fine for kids

good for people like me and i am 7 years old but not good for people below 4 years old.

Sex

Booooo Nick

Great and Safe Website for 7-12 Year Olds

good

Not that great

not for kids under 10

Nick Review

Iffy for 11-15

Alexandra

the best tv show and website

some content language not for kids

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