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Uncle Jay Explains: The News

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Sarcastic take on news topics will entertain teens.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 11 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Despite its name, this Web site does less explaining than entertaining. Teens won't necessarily walk away with a clearer understanding of the news (they may even have new questions), but they'll appreciate the skewering Uncle Jay gives.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Uncle Jay gets fodder for his news updates from real headlines, so there are some real news topics that are decidedly distasteful. He does, however, keep the message clean and the visuals cleaned up.

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    An occasional subtle reference that adults may find funny and teens may or may not catch. For instance, one segment's News Word of the Week is "package." After a brief pause, Uncle Jay chides parents to stop thinking of the word in "that way."

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Each page of the site features some ad content from Google, primarily touting anti-aging products and weight loss programs. Throughout the site, users will find banner ads soliciting donations (Uncle Jay's Tip Jar) and encouraging shopping for merchandise at Uncle J-Mart.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Because Uncle Jay's updates rely on real news stories for inspiration, there is the occasional mention of drugs, alcohol or tobacco. The mentions, however, are typically coated in negative sarcasm and the behavior is not glorified in any manner.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Uncle Jay Explains: The News

Parents need to know that the name of this site is a little misleading. While it appears to be a source for simple explanations of complicated news stories, it's actually a sarcastic and snarky skewering of world events. Geared for an older audience, it's less about the news and more about entertainment. Think Jon Stewart-lite.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why it's helpful to get many different perspectives on news and current events. Do humorous takes help us understand topics better? Do you ever want to record your own perspectives on things? Read Do It Yourself Media to see how you can create your own stuff.
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Our Members Say

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See all 6 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    cammy48
    I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it 4.0

    good website, but some humor that young kids would not get

    This is a great website, but it does have some humor that some kids under 8 would not get ,but overall it should be great for older kids/young tweens and older

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  2. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    ♥UndeadRainbow ...
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages

    Perfect for mature tweens and all teens

    i like the sarcastic twist on the news! some things are hard to understand for people under 10, but it's really funny.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    shmulik98
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • User content isn't age appropriate

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    PERFECT FOR TWEENS!!

    IT IS RLLY FUNNY!! I think under 11 will not rlly "get" everything he says. and he says some stuff about like, the Miss CA lady who got kicked out for that photo. BUt it rlly all depends on wats on the news! HILARIUOS THO! I wuz totally LOLZ!!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    REviwer98
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 1.0

    Good humor!

    Iunderstand the news better in a fun way.I like his sarcasm and jokes. little kids wont get his jokes though.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    BubbaBoy
    Lives in Arkansas
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0

    So Funny!

    This site is so funny. The way he twists the news to make it sarcastic! Ha!

    This review...

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

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