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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    Nonpartisan info for teens on avoiding pregnancy.

On this site kids can:   create and share content, do research, learn about a specific topic

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Lots of vital info and good advice awaits teens with questions about sex and dating. The site is full of tips, articles, stats, resources, and myth-busters sure to open a few young eyes about teen pregnancy. Sex facts kids need to know are sprinkled throughout: "You can get pregnant every time you have sex, including the first time." Though not the focus, contraception is covered, too. The opportunity given teens to submit their own videos promoting abstinence, surveys of what other teens think about sex, and articles written by teens makes the site feel inclusive, not simply an adult rant. 

  • User-created content:

    Some 200 teen-created "Stay TV" videos -- called "ads" -- celebrate being a kid. Most of the clips show teens engaged in typical activities such as skateboarding or just hanging out, but a few are inspiring, such as one in which a teen couple participates together in a cancer foundation's head-shaving event to the soundtrack of Martina McBride's "My Baby Loves Me (Just the Way That I Am)". The videos exhort viewers to "stay" -- e.g. "stay cool, stay strong, stay smart" -- and end with the voice over, "This is my life. I’m not going to mess it up with a pregnancy." 

  • Messages:

    By using excellent writing, compelling pregnancy statistics, and teens’ own voices this site successfully drives home the message that it’s OK to be a virgin. Without preaching or blaming, it offers all the right reasons why kids should "stay teen" -- carefree and unencumbered by early parenthood -- until adulthood.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Somewhat confusingly, the site refers to the videos that teens can create and upload as "ads," we assume because they can be considered promotions for sexual responsibility. The site actually is advertisement free except for two banners for educational TV programs about teen pregnancy.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

How safe is it?

  • Personal privacy:

    There are no site moderators or filters. However, teens can use the site without identifying themselves or sharing any personal information, and the site will remove posted videos or comments at the request of the owner.   

  • Online interaction:

    This site is primarily an educational tool, not a place for kids to network. Teens can upload and leave comments about videos, and they can "friend" the site in order to get updates at MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and Think MTV. The Youth Online Network mailing list announces contests and sends notifications when TV shows or magazines cover teen pregnancy. However, there are no chat, message board, or email tools. Comments on the site so far are sparse, and most of these are long, off-topic posts from girls either dealing with pregnancy scares or expressing satisfaction with being a teen mother.

  • Parental controls:

    There are no parental controls.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Stay Teen

This nicely done educational site is sponsored by the nonprofit organization National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. The nonpartisan, secular advice is sensible and straightforward. To help spread the message that abstinence is cool, the site features videos for teens made by teens enjoying their high school years without the complications of young parenthood. Just beware that a few young visitors have used the site to leave glowing comments about teen motherhood and post photos of themselves with their babies.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can use this site as a springboard to open up the lines of communication. Do teens feel comfortable asking about sex and relationships?  If not, why not? How can parents make it easier to talk about these important topics so kids make wise choices? (Read our advice in Talking to Kids About Premarital Sex.)
  • Discuss whether, as some teens on this site claim, there are any positive aspects to becoming a teen parent. How do the negative parts outweigh the positive?  How can teens respect others' choices without making the same mistakes?
Tools and tips that can help

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    mrs.july 09
    Lives in Mississippi
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    it's just for teens not little kids

    it's hard to be a teen you want to no why it sucks

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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