Wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)

common sense media says

Collaborative reference: Research with caution.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Wikipedia entries are compiled by users -- not an editorial staff. It's a constantly evolving collaborative encyclopedia and kids use it all the time to do research. The site employs no age filters. Kids who roam through the site can research anything from Galilleo to graphic sexual practices. Searches may return great information or words or images that are not for kids under any circumstances.  That said, most kids are asked to use this resource for schoolwork.  The most important thing kids have to realize is that even though many people look at entries, that doesn't guarantee that what they see is accurate. Kids must be encouraged to think critically about what they read and double check facts and sources if they are using anything for a homework assignment. While the millions of topics include many well-researched, kid-friendly entries, Wikipedia also has some material that is absolutely not appropriate for kids. The site does monitor the material posted, but it's just so enormous that the potential for kids to stumble upon age-inappropriate -- or inaccurate -- text and photos exists. Entries can also include links to outside sites, and kids can post and receive unedited messages in the discussion areas. Mostly, kids start surfing through the site and travel as their interests dictate. That said, some of those "interests" can be "TMI" for kids.

Educational value: Everything is here -- and we mean everything! Your child has the same access to graphic anatomical material as they do to nebulas and super nova. There is so much to stimulate kids' interests as they cruise from subject to subject. But kids must be told to employ critical thinking and fact checking since all material is generated by the community's users and thus may not be factual, accurate, or unbiased.
Positive messages: Rigorous ethics guidelines are administered; but sometimes people with agendas get into entries and twist things to their versions of their own truths.
Violence: In general, searches limited to school topics are presented in an academic manner, but main entries may include links to iffy content on and off the site. Watch for less conventional topics including violent video games, gangs, and adult media of all types. Occasionally malicious contributors add violent content, which is usually, but not always, removed quickly.
Sex: Ranges wildly. Includes encyclopedic-type entries for porn stars, R- and X-rated movies, explicit song lyrics and more; some adult pages, pages relating to sexual activity or anatomy include very sexually graphic images. Searches limited to school work and kid-specific media are safer, but entries may include links to other age-inappropriate content on and off the site. Occasionally malicious contributors add sexually gratuitous inappropriate content, which is usually, but not always, removed quickly. It's a gamble.
Language: Entries for topics including TV shows, films, video games, music, celebrities (and much more) may include inappropriate language (like video and song downloads with explicit lyrics and crass humor). Wikipedia entries that seem age-appropriate may include links to other Wikipedia entries with sexually graphic language or expletives. Occasionally malicious contributors ruin entries by inserting bad language, which is usually, but not always, removed quickly.
Consumerism: Entries for commercial products; some external links lead to commercial-heavy sites.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Entries and associated content may include discussion and images of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

More on Wikipedia.org

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the nature of a collaborative encyclopedia. Why is it important to use Wikipedia simply as a launching pad for more extensive research? Families can also talk about the ways to double-check a Wikipedia entry against more formal references. How do you navigate through such large amounts of information and find what's important?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The most important thing to know about this collaborative encyclopedia is that anyone with an Internet connection can edit entries, and while the site does have rigorous guidelines and a system to catch and eliminate bad content, they just can't keep up with the millions of constantly changing entries. (Malicious content is removed as quickly as possible and hard-hit entries are locked down from further editing.) And you can guarantee that your curious kid will find all the detailed entries you wished he hadn't (pornography, explicit song lyrics, long-winded definitions of dirty words). The carefully researched, comprehensive entries do exist, but a disclaimer states that stuff may be wrong and to use the site as just one of many reference tools. You might also want to check out the discussion areas before your kid freely posts or gets any messages.

This review was written by Ellen Dendy
 
 

Review It

 

Review Wikipedia.org





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

13

Most useful reviews by all members

zainu
parent of 17 year old
 
oerwqq
This is my favorite site. It may contain in some articles sex topics, violent images, nudity, and language. It sometimes lies too, It's a wonderful life, sleeping beauty, and Star wars episode 5 did not get mixed reviews on it's original release. I hate box office bombs and negative reviews because gives you the what if feeling and it's unfair to a film that i like, what the heck!!!! despite this I highly recommeded it!!!! health administration

Konny765
teen, 14 years old
 
PLEASE READ: Verry Important Information
OK, I was doing a report for school about the human body. I asked my teacher if she could give me source material, she recommended Wikipedia.org. So I went and typed in The Human Body. Two naked people showed up - a man and a woman - I was a little weary about it at first but I figured my teacher assigned it so I went on. Then I clicked on a link for what I thought was the digestive system but it was "something else" so to speak. Then it showed how to have "you know what" and ALLLL the over ways of doing it. I immediately got my mom and dad and we vowed NEVER to use it again! For the Parents: If you do want to use this site along with your kids I reccomend supervision over them because you don't want them to have the same experience as ME!

nsvv
teen, 14 years old
 
An excellent resource but only for intelligent and trustworthy teens.
Like YouTube, Wikipedia is a site that has outstanding content, but it requires a level of maturity to use. The issue with Wikipedia is that the vast majority (and I do mean the vast majority i.e. 99.9%) of the information is reliable. Unfortunately, this is spoilt by a tiny minority of people who add incorrect or malicious information onto the site. Wikipedia is a fantastic resource for homework, but do not let your child use it if they will either: i- liable to copy large chunks off it ii- not able to critically examine info to determine its reliability.

 
Not good

Miloub
teen, 14 years old
 
Oh heavens..
Wonderful, just..Wondeful

shrek31003
kid, 8 years old
 
perfecto
great website there is an wikipedea app

cone
parent of 9 year old
 

canadarocks
kid, 9 years old
 

Themistocles2
kid, 12 years old
 
The Worldwide Encyclopedia of Everything.
Wikipedia is one of those sites where you never know what might come up. If I could, I would have clicked 'I think this website is ON for ages ?'. It really depends on what you search. If you search 'Lego', 'chickens' or 'Xbox LIVE' you'll be okay. If you search 'striptease', 'first-degree murder' or 'full-frontal nudity', maybe not. The most inappropriate thing on there gets this a +17, but just DON'T SEARCH FOR INAPPROPRIATE THINGS!

Mr. Boxbox
parent of 16 year old
 
giving wikipedia a parental review is like giving a dictionary or an encyclopedia a review. there are some articles that are about sex, violence or swearing but there are also in any other encyclopedia.

gamerkid660
kid, 12 years old
 
good site
i like it. It lets me know info about video games im concerned about.

haddad fan
kid, 12 years old
 
This site is iffy for 18 and under, but KOL and some sites made this site not for kids at the mistake! Here's the Subject; There is some search you shouldn't see in grades 6 or younger, some search you shouldn't see in grades 9 or younger, some search you shouldn't search in grades 11 or younger and some search you shouldn't see in grades 12 or younger unless parents/guardians are with you. Try General Keywords, and Few and More Keywords.

jayjay100
kid, 12 years old
 
Users need first to login then password find users i created and block it(not necessary, but encouraged.)
creating theirseleves can be used mostly 13+.

4kidshater
teen, 14 years old
 
a reliable source most of the time, but sometimes lies too!!!
This is my favorite site. It may contain in some articles sex topics, violent images, nudity, and language. It sometimes lies too, It's a wonderful life, sleeping beauty, and Star wars episode 5 did not get mixed reviews on it's original release. I hate box office bombs and negative reviews because gives you the what if feeling and it's unfair to a film that i like, what the heck!!!! despite this I highly recommeded it!!!!

hunter98
kid, 13 years old
 
i love wikipedia
the site is good when ever i want to look up something its useful i havent seen anything bad on it so an iffy for 12 and up

qermaq
adult
 
It's a reference
Wikipedia is no different than the Funk and Waggenel you used to look up naughty words in, or find some important information in. Wikipedia is a source of whatever you seek. If you seek the prurient, it's there. If you seek the wholesome, it's there. Rarely do the two cross, but they coexist. Commercialism isn't an issue, as there are no ads, and the userbase works to keep articles unbiased. But discussion is frank, so if your child is naive or incapable of dealing with surprising and perhaps enticing new information, you might be advised to monitor his/her use of this site until they are old enough.

Xaisede
kid, 13 years old
 
Its fine, just has to be wieghed with a grain of salt.


kid, 12 years old
 
oh, we are waiting to have an account until we are a preteen (12 years old)!
11 year olds can't have an account, i wouldn't use wiki with anyone under 7, i used the computer since 4 or 5.


teen, 14 years old
 
oh, we are waiting to have an account until we are a preteen (12 years old)!
11 year olds can't have an account, i wouldn't use wiki with anyone under 7, i used the computer since 4 or 5.

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you visit Wikipedia.org?


Already visited it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


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