Parents need to know that this enormous virtual world offers a huge variety of activities to satisfy its target age range of 5-14. The site has several educational features that introduce important historical characters and basic concepts in math, science, and the humanities.
Educational value:Some games and activities feature famous historical figures, and players can visit specific pages on the site to learn more about these people and their accomplishments. Other activities introduce basic concepts in science, math and humanities. Users must also plan ahead and budget to purchase expensive items, such as pets or furniture for their virtual homes.
Positive messages:Players are encouraged to become part of the Secret Builders community, by befriending others, chatting with people and submitting feedback about different activities and features. People can make suggestions for new features and read other people's ideas on forums. Players are encouraged to notify the moderators about anything they may think is inappropriate. The site also features a game that enables kids to raise money for charity groups.
Language:Moderators screen all submissions for inappropriate language before it is posted. There are two modes for chatting; younger players use the restricted chat feature, which limits people to a list of words and phrases, while older kids can, with their parents' permission, chat freely, though the content is still screened for inappropriate words. Parents have control over players' buddy lists.
Consumerism:The site encourages people to earn money, called shills, by playing games, and then to spend it on various items.
The game is interesting. However it has a chat and I found very inappropiate an email my child received. I copy it textually: "Dear xxxx,Please come home and tuck me into bed! I'm really tired and sleepy" What kind of language a kid use it?
I am afraid Some pedofilos can be behind this Web page. Furthermore they have some clubs, a secret club for example where the child is invited to share his or her secrets....uhmmmm
very suspicius!!!!
safe, educational and fun! what more could a parent want?
this site is constantly playing with their filters and improving it. The previous reviewer mentioned the dating talk was passing the filters. not so anymore. I trust my kids on this site more so than club penguin. I have an 11 year old and a 8 year old.
Safety isn't much of an issue as of how saying a swear you will be banned; however, some users may use words which are obviously substituting the words such as: sax or b!tch. It also includes educational games using skills which can help children learn in the future.
At first I was very pleased with this site. After using it for several days and really enjoying it, another playing sent a message to my daughter saying" hey you and I would be great together !" then another one said " wanna go out with me ? that phrase seems to be very common. Then worse of all someone called her a loser and a jerk. My daughter is no longer allowed to use the site.
Karpawalsh
Fantasic! 2nd best online game I have ever played!!!
This game is worth checking out. It has plenty of games, contests, and quests! This game is actually mostly about writing. With several refrences to classic books.The average kid might not like it. If you have a writer, though, they probably will! Totally age appropriate. Chat is safe. Nothing to worry about here. In case you're curious, VMK was the best online game I have played.
My 11 year old daughter learned about this site from a teacher recommendation. They said it's a great learning site that basis games around history and literature. That may be a portion of the site but I believe the part that is most used by the children is the chat and social aspect of the site. Here they can type messages to each other that are supposed to be safe chat but the players have found ways around that. There is lots of negative chat, name calling, sexualized messages, rudeness and pawning of items. There is also a game I just learned of today that they play in another member's house. It's spin the bottle! They all gather in another player's house and a boy or girl picks a player, who then sits next to them and they type in 'KIZZ' or' make love to me'! I was shocked to see this and embarrassed that I have let me 11 year old play on this site for so long. Shortly after I saw that, I noticed another player type, spin the bottle at my party, all boys. Which made me realize that anyone can sign up for an account, even adults. These adults could be playing these "games" with your children. Well, I'm done with this site. My daughter may not understand my way of thinking but this is not what this site was intended for in my eyes. I do not like that there is little monitoring. Sure, a player can get kicked off their account for ludicrous language but they can immediately open another account. Very bad website for children.
This site is REALLY fun! But...When people are walking up to you and saying things such as, "Hey baby" or, "Wanna make love?" or, "Will you marry me?" It's terrible!!! I think that if you want to join this site by all means go ahead but I highly suggest that you first make sure that you can handle it when somebody calls you the 'b' word! This is no joke! This girl said that she was Obama's daughter so this other girl walked over to her and said, "We hate you." "You're a BEEP" She called her the B word!!! She separated it so I reported her. But It's terrible and I wouldn't recommend it for kids under the age of 14.
I tried this site after SecretBuilders closed, but this guy said "d!ck".
Also, some guy I don't even know went next to me. I know that can happen.. but it looked awkward, considering the fact that a lot of guys stood next to girls.
Many people say that the age range is for kids age 5-14, but I would have to say I disagree. I think tjhat there is something for all ages on it, and I would even recommend it for 18+.
It not really a good website.You need to know about a million people just to have any fun!Plus some people use the swearing codes on here and are rude to others,and there block button dosen't work!And they are treating the dizzies (from dizzywood) horribly by not letting us write stories or create clubs or anything really.
my friend showed me this game it was fun and all but they will ask you on a date and worse of all spin the bottle its a romance game bean bags are placed in a shape and tow squished in the middle male picks the female or female picks the male goes up and says kizz there really saying kiss i am afraid that teens are going in younger age groups to ask a 9 year old out online and people on there try to say bad words so i am saying 3 stars because its fun the romance and stuff takes the two out.