There (http://www.there.com)

common sense media says

3-D virtual world can be creative, inappropriate.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that their teens should use caution when hanging out in this free 3-D virtual world. It can be a fun and imaginative place to chat and play, but it can also be addictive, socially stifling, and be a place where kids do, say, or wear things they wouldn't in real life. Premium membership costs around $10 and added features like clothes, home furnishings, and cars cost Therebucks, which are purchased with a credit card or Paypal. Teens may be tempted to spend frequently as there are many things to buy that enhance the online experience. It's also easy to be sucked into spending a ton of time in this world.

Educational value: With premium membership, users can become landlords, fashion designers, and party hosts for other visitors. There's a lot of opportunity to show creativity and learn if teens decide to do so.
Positive messages: Can be very addictive and blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Avatars can be mean or ignore each other, but they can also be really friendly and perfectly acceptable.
Violence: None was observed, but anything goes in virtual worlds where the avatars can say what they want and go where they want. Online verbal "fights" can happen.
Sex: Avatars can kiss, flirt, dress provocatively, use sexual language, and customize body types -- big boobs included. They can also take conversations somewhat "offline" by chatting one-on-one in private.
Language: The site describes its language as "PG-13" but members can disable their filter and chat freely and use words that might be offensive.
Consumerism: Multiple sponsorship programs; companies (like Coke and CosmosGirl!) can advertise by hosting a special world, chat room, and events or run promos. Members use real dollars to buy "Therebucks" -- There.com's online currency (1,800T = US $1). Premium membership costs around $10.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Some avatars are seen drinking a firey concoction.

More on There

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about why a virtual reality site appeals to teens? How do people act differently in a chat room versus real life? Why do we need to virtually experience doing something that could be done in real life? Is it easier to make friends as an avatar rather than as yourself? Also, families can discuss what information is OK to give to other people online? What should never be shared?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Although much of the site is pure fun, there are some questionable aspects. Chatting has guidelines in place that prohibit explicit language, but take away the filter, and an avatar is free to swear up a storm. Sharing of personal info, although advised against, isn't full proof -- and avatars often link to their personal pages in their profiles. Many teen-targeted companies sponsor various events and rooms; it's not blatant advertising and may be easier to influence teens. Also, because everything looks so real, teens might have a tough time separating virtual reality from the real world. And with the many layers to the site, it can easily become a time-consuming pastime. Users can go from just chatting to buying and renting virtual property, selling items, and hosting events. It's a fantasy world almost-come-to-life, but just as in the real world, there are precautions that need to be taken.


This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Bobbi62
adult
 
An adult perspective
There* is billed as a site for teens, but there are plenty of adults who spend time in here. It's a large enough world, with enough different places waiting to be colonised, that adults who want to create a calm oasis in which to chill and caht can freely do so away from the teenage party areas. For me it's a way to relax away from the pressures of real life, and I've made virtual friends with people from all round the world. Great. Of course, escapism has other interesting sides. I can be whoever and (more-or-less) whatever I want in the There* world. So I can have a wonderful waterside home with fields and mountains out the back; and the cost of renting the space and buying the goods is likely to feel modest to a middle-aged person. On the other hand - I could pretend to be a teenager (which I'm definielt not) - and so the usual precautions about on-line safety that you'd apply to MSN or Bebe are still important.

DOLLY18
parent of 6 and 15 year old
 
dont work

KiPunk11
teen, 15 years old
 
A great way to kill the boardom.
Ok... This is getting a bit out of hand. Let da K-man breaggitdown Sex-nothing explicit. Kissing and thats all. Of course, there's always talking.... Violance- Running over people and shooting people. You cant die, and your guy comes out totally unscathed. The guns are unreallistic but can be made to look real. And even though there only paint guns, thay will send you FLYING!!! Language-If you leave your chat filter on, its all good. But voice chatters are a different story. Social Behavior- If your nice, people will like you. If you're an A-hole, you'll get the heck shot out of ya. You can drink, but you cant get staggering wasted or anything. I /---- I I I I I I I ____/ out of 10

pascal
teen, 17 years old
 
u need real money for virtual items
game revolves around money-u buy it and how rich you are in the game

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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