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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    CW shows streaming online; some iffy stuff.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–18

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Some of the shows display catty behavior, backstabbing, lying, and characters that are obsessed with clothes.
  • Violence:

    Wrestling show coverage shows some fighting, but it's fairly tame. Other shows have action violence with guns, fists, and blood.
  • Sex:

    Some of the shows have mature sexual situations; teenagers making out in cars, losing virginity, drunken sex, cheating.
  • Language:

    Regular profanity like "bitch" and "ass," "hell," "damn," "bastard," etc.
  • Consumerism:

    Many shows have product placement and promote certain things such as cell phones, computers, and clothes. show-related shopping. Users can purchase wallpaper designs and ringtones featuring spoken samples from CW shows. One link for a Gossip Girl style section leads users to an online commercial for Victoria's Secret. The site's cool music section is a particularly detailed online store, linking to songs from CW shows and giving users the chance to preview and buy entire albums by the featured artists.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Teens drink and smoke (both cigarettes and pot) in some of the shows.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About CWTV

Parents need to know that kids can view entire episodes of CW shows on this hub -- shows like Gossip Girl and Supernatural which are for older teens. And, despite the fact the site likely has mostly teen visitors, the CW channel doesn't view itself as a place for kids; the site cautions that its community is not for those under 13. That said, there are plenty of shows that are fine for kids. The CW Lounge message boards are monitored, and warn any inappropriate language will be removed, but some chatter walks the line of too-adult for teens, including a recent discussion on how disappointingly innocent a recent sex scene was. Also, users can send private messages to each other and create a buddy list to see when other users are online.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about which TV shows are appropriate for kids to watch and which ones aren't? What themes make a show good for all ages? What storylines should be reserved only for older teens and adults? Families can also go over what kind of information is unsafe to give out online. What kind isn't?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    A normal tv network website

    It has all the same features every other tv network website has. It streams episodes of tv shows that air on The CW. Some shows are iffy in content, but they are ok. There are forums which are checked frequently by the sites manager people. They delete content and the user's file if they put something inappropriate on. So pretty safe website for ages 13 and up.

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