PopStarOnline (http://www.popstaronline.com)

common sense media says

Shallow celeb mag has unmonitored forums.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the unmonitored message boards are the biggest draw for this tween/teen celeb magazine site. They operate on a trust system -- users are asked not to post any vulgar, defamatory, hateful, or sexually oriented material, and a disclaimer warns that the site may remove messages although the messages and their content "are not responsibility of this forum." Members can email the site to report any offenses, and the site passively informs users that, due to COPPA regulations, users age 13 and under are not allowed to register -- but doesn't prevent them from doing so. The result: A cleaner board than you might expect, but invites to even more unregulated sites like MySpace are common. The rest of the lean site is innocuous.

Positive messages: The site may encourage star-struck tweens and young teens to try to emulate celebrities that might not be the best role models.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: There are some general comments about the sexual appeal of certain celebrities, but nothing explicit (think school-girl-crush talk).
Language: Message board features the word "damn" -- and could let other swear words through.
Consumerism: The site contains ads for celeb Web sites and some major pushes for the print magazine. There's also a Pop Shop to purchase the magazine.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on PopStarOnline

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the danger of providing personal information to people on message boards who may or may not be the age or gender they claim to be. What information is OK to share? Why is it important to never post a full name, address or phone number?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Aside from some gimmicky features, the site's heavy on the print promotion and light on activities. Plugs for the current issue are everywhere -- self-promotional ads reference (but don't offer any content from) articles; the Juicy Stuff section is almost all issue teasers. One of the only sections offering substantial reading is a series of outtakes from a band interview appearing in -- of course -- the current issue. PopStarOnline.com's other offerings aren't much more engrossing. Users can download a free teen star poster or chat with other celeb-centric users on message boards filled with debates about which boys are cuter and users gently pushing the conversation over to MySpace. And if all that talk about the current issue just makes you want to read the magazine ASAP, there's the chance to subscribe for 12 issues for $19 ($35 outside the U.S.) and order back issues through 1999.

This review was written by Erin Brereton
 
 

Review It

 

Review PopStarOnline





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

Most useful reviews by all members

5 star gal
teen, 15 years old
 
its age approprite for ages 10 & up.
I do not understand why everyone ,kids my age,since I was 10 has said its perfectly fine. Im 13 and I just do not get why people think you should drive before you can get news and stuff about your favorite stars.Thats all.

stargirl4peace
teen, 16 years old
 
Annoying and Advertising
This is obviously Popstar!'s official site. On most of the blog postings, there is some kind of advertising for their magazine. I'm not sure if the rumors in the magazine are true or not, but I wouldn't trust them. I also am kind of turned off to the site with the mention of all the half-naked guys in and on the magazine. There were at least two shirtless posters in just one of the magazines I looked at, and the website definitely advertised that.

dareese12
kid, 12 years old
 
dareese blog
I think im a good preson

tookayla
kid, 12 years old
 
love it!!!!

miley10
kid, 12 years old
 
good
fine

krissy2u
teen, 14 years old
 
good for 10 and up
I can honestly say that it's an ok website for tweens, and teens. I mean, if you have to be obsessed with a website for a magazine, it could be this one.

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you visit PopStarOnline?


Already visited it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


About our rating system
ON: Content is 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