SportsBLOX (http://www.sportsblox.com)

common sense media says

Rookie sports site is boring; needs more filters.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this new virtual reality sports site from the creators of Whyville.net requires users to be at least 13, though there's nothing to prevent a kid from entering an older birth date when registering (users also give an email address, username, and password). The site is based around chatting with other users about sports. There's no chat filter, but the guidelines prohibit profanity and hate speech, and violators are punished with "yellow cards" or "ejections." So far, there was no iffy language on the site (other than one "WTF"), but that could change as more people join. Users can visit virtual bars if they're 21. The SportsBLOX bank isn't open yet, but soon users will be able to get BLOXbux to buy things like virtual goods and tickets to special events.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: Like in any site with chat, kids can be rejected quite easily -- although plenty of users are friendly and welcoming.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Chat isn't monitored, but users are asked to keep their posts clean. So far, there's nothing stronger than "WTF" on here.
Consumerism: The home page has several banner ads, and the virtual world has some "billboards" that link to outside sites. The SportsBLOX bank isn't open yet, but soon users will be able to get BLOXbux to buy things like virtual goods and tickets to special events.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Users who are 21+ can gather in virtual bars to chat.

More on SportsBLOX

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about safety in virtual worlds. How do you know if you can trust someone online? What are the potential pitfalls of sharing personal information online? What kind of information is off limits? Families can also talk about virtual communities and identity. What appeals to teens about using an avatar rather than a true identity? What does an avatar tell you about the real person behind it?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

If you build it, will they come? The jury's still out on SportsBLOX.com from the creators of Whyville.net. There aren't many fans on the site yet, so there's not much to do other than check out the different locations. SportsBLOX.com is still in beta though, and the FAQs promise games, events, a virtual store, and more places to visit in upcoming weeks. The site has a sophisticated look and a cool concept behind it; with more users and more activities, it could score a lot of points. Sports fans might want to check back in a few months to see how the site has progressed.

Website themes & details


This review was written by Susan Yudt
 
 

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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