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PulseIt (http://www.simonandschuster.com/specials/pulseit/)

common sense media says

Friendly social site for fans of young adult novels.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this "book social networking site" features a rotating selection of new titles published by Simon & Schuster, which teens ages 14-18 can read online and discuss. (Only teens in this age group are permitted to register on the site.) Visitors must provide a mailing address to sign up, and it may take several days for an account for be approved by the webmaster. In general, users' interactions are friendly and respectful, and the books seem to be age-appropriate. (Two of the current selections include Girl Stays in the Picture by Melissa de la Cruz and City of Glass by Cassandra Clare.)

Educational value: The books offered aren't exactly educational, but users get a chance to exercise critical thinking and express themselves in their reviews and blogs.
Positive messages: Messages vary based on which books are available.
Violence: Some books about witches, demons, and other evil creatures. In one book, the main character's father was murdered.
Sex: Mild banter like "Biting is sexy" (in reference to vampires); one book deals with purity rings and pressure to have sex.
Language: Generally, language in posts and blogs is mild, with a few stronger words here and there ("bullcrap," "hoe," "b*tchin").
Consumerism: Occasionally directs readers to the Simon & Schuster store to purchase a book.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: One book focuses on a character's struggles with drugs and alcohol. Users' comments on the book are very anti-drug.
Privacy & safety: Visitors must provide a mailing address in order to sign up -- the site says "it will only be used if we need to ship you a prize." Profiles can contain a username and photo. No email addresses or locations are displayed, but there's an "About Me" open text field in each profile.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on PulseIt

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about Internet safety with social networking sites. What information is OK to reveal in your profile and posts, and what's off limits? What would you do if another user was bothering or harassing you?

  • Discuss creativity and self-expression. Why do certain books touch us? What kind of stories do your teens have to tell? Families can discuss the risks and rewards of sharing our writing and talk about giving and receiving constructive criticism.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Simon & Schuster's PulseIt began as an offline program that provided teens with free books in exchange for their feedback. Now, this "book social networking site" encourages teens to choose to a book to read online -- two new titles are introduced each month -- and post their reviews. Judging from the overwhelmingly positive ratings, the books seem to be faring well. The browser-based reader isn't very sophisticated, and some users have complained about technical glitches. Visitors may also get frustrated waiting for their accounts to be approved -- it can take several days before they're granted member status. Nevertheless, teens who like to read young-adult fiction will have fun expressing themselves in this friendly, respectful community.

Online interaction: The vast majority of interactions are respectful. However, one user expressed a concern about not being able to block a user who was sending her unwanted messages. There are community guidelines, and users can flag objectionable posts.

This review was written by Susan Yudt
 
 

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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
Our child development rating guidelines