Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this popular online source for celebrity gossip and entertainment news has a reputation for being first to break some of the most salacious celebrity antics, and relies on paparazzi video, photos, and legal documents to support its news items. Much of the daily dish chronicles the activities of Hollywood's most notorious celebs, so there are many references to drinking, rehab, lawsuits, clubbing, celebrity love gone bad, and physical appearance. A recent post covered the male genitalia of certain celebrities, and "Hot" galleries feature photos of celebrities in revealing clothing. Comments seem to be fair game, and are frequently a forum for rants that include racial slurs and other demeaning remarks. Advertisers run the gamut from Weight Watchers to ringtones, and because it's a sister site, TMZ.com links to AOL's other entertainment sites. It also links to just about every celebrity gossip site out there (and there are many), including some that might not be so safe for kids.
Families can talk about how tabloids have affected the way we view celebrities, or our interest level in celebrities in general. Can some of the items on the site really be considered news? Why do you think people are so interested in seeing footage of famous people doing the everyday things that "normal" people do, such as visiting the ATM or getting a cup of coffee? TMZ.com covers many celebrity lawsuits. Why do so many celebrities seem to be constantly at odds with the law?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Denise Duval
The "TMZ" in TMZ.COM refers to "Thirty Mile Zone," a term first coined in the 1960s to describe the area surrounding the former offices of The Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. If the site's steady stream of scandal is anything to go by, the zone is now a steamy swamp of underage drinking, drug use, DUIs, bitter divorces, courtroom dramas, and custody battles. It's all in a day's work over at TMZ.com. If you want to know who's suing who, who's breaking up, who's hooking up, who's under arrest, and who's headed for the Big House, this site (which is also a TV show) seems to know about it before anyone else, and has the access to the legal documents, photos, and video to prove it. And on a slow day in Hollywood, we can count on an endless supply of paparazzi footage showing celebrities leaving a restaurant or going to Whole Foods. Or if you can't get enough of say, TomKat or Lindsay Lohan, you'll find their antics grouped in the "Hot Celebs" section. There are much better uses of your kids' time than spending it at places like TMZ.com. The only benefit the site could possibly hold for kids is its well-documented evidence of the consequences of drinking and driving, or dabbling in illegal substances.
Less juicy and slightly more "wholesome" celebrity news can be found at omg.yahoo.com.
Reviewed: 09/09/2007
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Sexual Content"Hot" pictures and video of celebrities in revealing clothing. Many posts reference celebrity sexual activity. |
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ViolenceFootage includes things like drunken catfights and altercations outside Hollywood clubs. |
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LanguageBad language is bleeped out in the actual posts, as well as many of the comments, but there are many of those bleeps. |
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Social BehaviorSite content relies heavily on celebrities breaking the law or getting into other kinds of trouble. Some posts make demeaning comments about celebrities' appearance. Comments can be a forum for racial slurs and other insults. |
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CommercialismMany banner ads on the site, mostly for things like dating web sites, Weight Watchers, and upcoming TV shows. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoExtensive coverage on celebrities drinking, clubbing, and using drugs. |
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Educational ValueSuperficial, gossipy content with little educational benefit. |
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