• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17.

• Is it any good?

  2.0

• Common Sense says

  Dubious product "reviews" reap financial incentives.

Why We Rated This for Ages 17 and Up

The good stuff

• Educational value:

  Not an issue.
• User-created content:

  Messages, reviews and special groups generally have positive, product-based content. However, some of the products and discussion about them have inappropriate language and/or suggestive content.

What to watch out for

• Messages:

  In its effort to find the “best of everything,” there are some helpful product reviews from the various expert reviewers who contribute to the site. The reviews are typically positive endorsements of a short list of products and not a comparison of brands (a la Consumer Reports). Ultimately, though, this site is all about buying products and collecting “favorite users” who also buy products. Users are financially rewarded for their purchases and for getting other users to make purchases.
• Violence:

  Not an issue.
• Sex:

  Profile pictures posted by users frequently feature barely clothed women in sexually suggestive poses. Messages sent between users in various “groups” are frequently suggestive.
• Language:

  The comments and profiles that can be viewed by users are primarily clean, but individuals’ status updates and the messages sent between users and visible in group discussions can include potentially offensive language.
• Consumerism:

  Built to bolster online shopping, this site is rife with consumerism. Each user posts recommendations and images of their favorite products and each “expert reviewer” makes recommendations of products. The World’s Most Expensive section celebrates products that are exorbitantly priced such as a $145,000 Bible and a $20,000 Blackberry case. Rotating ads from retailers and online shops are interspersed throughout the pages.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Cigar and humidor products are readily available for purchase. Several user groups are focused on cocktails and drink recipes.

How safe is it?

• Personal privacy:

  Users can set basic privacy controls. The site clearly states it is not intended for users under the age of 16. Those under 16 must receive consent from a parent or guardian.
• Online interaction:

  Users can create a profile, post status updates, send messages (both private and public) and create groups. Though there are privacy settings that users can utilize, the messages are unfiltered and largely unregulated.
• Parental controls:

  Because the site is not intended for users under 16, there are no parental controls in place.

What Parents Need to Know

About Tibesti

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