 | ON: Content is age-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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
There
Common Sense Media says
3-D virtual world can be creative, inappropriate.
Parents say
Kids 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.
What's it about?
THERE.COM combines all the popular teenage hobbies -- chatting, video gaming, and shopping -- set it in a visually spectacular (if not slow) fantasy world. Visitors are able to create their own avatar, a realistic-looking persona that's fully customizable. (Want a bigger bust or a smaller butt?) They then can travel through various settings (from the moon to an exotic jungle retreat), chat with other avatars, and play games. Homes can be fully furnished and there's usually always a party going on somewhere around the sight. Avatars talk to one another through comic-book style bubbles and can even do actions like wink, hug, or kiss.
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.
What families can talk about
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?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
u need real money for virtual items
game revolves around money-u buy it and how rich you are in the game
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
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
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Genre: | Educational |
Contact us to give us more feedback on our learning ratings.
Review It
Tell us what you think about our new Learning Ratings. We value your feedback.
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already visited it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
