 | 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. |
Urban Dictionary
Common Sense Media says
Words you won't find in Webster's are mostly mature.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this online dictionary of slang terms can delve into areas of sex, drugs, and violence. But it also has its finger on the pulse of of-the-moment expressions and can be humorous and thought-provoking. The content can also be shocking -- the site's guidelines say
it will "publish racial and sexual slurs" because "people use slurs in
everyday speech" -- but will reject racist and sexist entries. (Editors
are encouraged to approve terms that document but don't endorse
discrimination -- which can be a fine line). The site's usage terms say
the content "is frequently presented in a coarse and direct manner that
some may find offensive" and suggest the site isn’t for users under 13.
However, kids can easily find a number of edgy definitions; the terms
are listed alphabetically, and there's also a search function.
Is it any good?
The Urban Dictionary gets points for encouraging creativity, and some of the tamer terms are funny or feature earnest definitions. However, while the site might help increase your tween's interest in words, the risk of your child running across some made-up monikers that you won't want repeated is pretty high -- so supervision is recommended.
Online interaction: Users can instantly chat live -- via text or video -- with other users. There's no language filter, and conversations can get heated.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
What is a slur? What kind of words and terms -- involving gender, race, appearance or other things -- should you not say to offend people or hurt their feelings?
If you hear someone else use a term that you think may offend people or hurt their feelings, is it OK to repeat it -- or is that just as bad as saying it? Is there a difference between talking about discrimination and actually discriminating against people -- and how do you not cross that line?
Why would you not want to video chat with a stranger? What kind of things could happen that would be different or not as safe during a chat if you're able to see the person you're chatting with, instead of just typing back and forth?
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- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
July 23, 2010
AGE
Funny website. ;D
Whoa, this website has way, too many sexual things.
But, the definitions are just halarious. xD
It makes my day,
literly.
It's helpful, if you hear a new word online and you want to know what it means.
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Parent of 11 and 13 year old
November 14, 2010
AGE
Stupid and innapropriate
Half of the definitions are about sex and drugs. 75% is made-up nonsense. Users post the most random things, and it is almost never appropriate.
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Adult
October 7, 2010
AGE
Have you ever heard the term TMI? That's what this site is . . .
I have occasionally use this site when I wonder the *real message* behind popular songs. I wouldn't recommend this site for young teenagers. Although some may find it to be funny, almost every entry I've read is very vulgar. It could be a great education for parents, though, if they hear their teenagers mention a term that they don't recognize. Warning though, I have often discovered that I was better off not knowing the real meaning behind the words.
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Kid, 11 years old
August 15, 2010
AGE
Boon's rating
What is up with these reviews? the whole website is just about curse and sex words. its a cursing dictionary!
plus people can upload whatever they want on the site, so you can see the F-word probably.
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Adult
May 17, 2010
AGE
Useful tool, but visiter beware!
Ever been in a situation, either as a kid/teenager or as an adult and had a word come up on tv/in conversation/in a song that left you confused? And not just a word like majuscule that can be looked up in a dictionary, a word like "milf" or "newb" that has more or less been made up by popular society. Urbandictionary* is basically the answer to that problem, which can be good and bad.
Really this site is best for high school students, college students, and adults. There is a lot of content involving sex, drugs, and alcohol on this site, and for once I think Common Sense has underestimated. There is a word of the day posted on the home page of the site, which may or may not be tame. Also the definitions are free for people to type out, and these often include bias and personal opinion (such as the entries for Miley Cyrus or George W Bush). Still, the site is not inherently bad, and pretty darn useful. The content is just such that I wouldn't recommend usage for anyone who still doesn't know where babies come from.
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Teen, 13 years old
June 29, 2010
AGE
Once again, Common Sense Media has horribly misrated something. This website contains VERY mature sexual terms and slang. There is CONSTANT profanity everywhere on the site! There are TONS of references to marijuana, alchohol, and many other drugs. Another problem is it's all user generated, so anyone can add any definition at any time, it IS checked by people, but that's only so that they make sur that the definitions are REAL. Yes, the definitions are real, so in a disturbing way it can help teens figure out what their friends may be talking about, or something else like that.
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Kid, 12 years old
June 26, 2010
AGE
iffy
it is a good site if u dont know a word
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Teen, 14 years old
August 26, 2010
AGE
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Teen, 13 years old
May 28, 2010
AGE
meant for words that are not commonly appropriate
it's really inapropriate, but can be helpful for teens who need to find out on their own what their friends are talking about. LOTS of inappropriate words and swears. That's what the site is for mostly.
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Teen, 13 years old
January 18, 2011
AGE
This website is fine until you start to really get into it. There is a lot of bad language and negative messages (racism, sexism).
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| Genre: | Educational |
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