Yahoo! Answers

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Unfiltered, unfettered answers require a huge grain of salt.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this free informational site offers up answers to virtually any question imaginable but is an iffy place for young kids to explore without supervision. The self-proclaimed “world’s biggest think tank” lets visitors ask questions and registered users volunteer their advice and answers. Though the questions and answers are divided into easy-to-peruse categories, there is an array of topics that are accessible to anyone choosing to browse.

  • Aside from a occasional cranky rants, most of the users are trying to be helpful. The overall message is that being inquisitive is a good thing, but the variety of unsubstantiated "answers" means you can't believe everything you read.
  • Questions and answers about violence run the gamut from the effects of videogame violence to musings on why people physically abuse others.
  • Plenty of questions about sex, but nothing pornographic.
  • Asterisks are used in place of swear words.
  • The site seems to be more advertising than advice. Both questions and answers are keyed to advertising topics, so if you ask a question about eyeglasses, the stie serves ads for LensCrafters and other optical shops.
  • Every so often, there are questions about illegal drugs and illegal practices like how to obtain pharmaceuticals without a prescription.
  • To ask or answer questions you have to register by
    choosing a nickname, creating a unique profile, and uploading an
    optional photo. You can keep your identity anonymous, but the site encourages users to become experts in their areas of knowledge.

Is it any good?

 

Yahoo! Answers certainly doesn’t have all the answers, but it’s a decent place to start if you’re an adult looking for practical information such as how to wash jeans without shrinking them … or tricks to making meringue. Ask virtually anything, and there’s an answer for it.  But those few who choose to ask or answer dubious questions about sex, drugs, or violent behaviors turn this site into a not-so-safe place for kids. Just like the worldwide Web itself, there’s some useful information to discover, but there’s also a lot of questionable fare to wade through.

Online interaction: Sometimes the answers are misguided, angry diatribes
posted by people who just want to stir up trouble. Certain categories have more of this type of commentary than others.


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What families can talk about

  • How the Internet has made it possible to seek out answers to virtually any question -- and receive answers almost instantly. Does this feed our desire for instant gratification? How did people find out answers before there was a computer in nearly every home?

  • Why do some people spend a good deal of time loading inappropriate answers and information into Web sites? Is this a form of bullying?

  • Why you shouldn’t always believe, trust or follow information or advice that is found on Web sites. When it comes to important issues in life, who are better people to turn to? What can these trusted people do to help make sure the Internet is a safer place for kids?


This review was written by Conny Coon
Kid, 13 years old
September 27, 2009
 
entertainment
Not really advice but opinions. Helpful if you need advice on your novels/writing but some people give you crap for it, I was told my writing was crap, but that's just there opinion.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
May 4, 2010
 
This is Also Yahoo/Live Too! geez
Not Age Appropriate for kids under 6, Age Appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 8. Good for 9 and up, Bad for 6 and under, OK but not really 7-8 year olds unless you use safe mode.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 17 years old
September 25, 2009
 
Not really "answers", just "entertainment"
DISCLAIMER: Most of the advice on Answers are just opinions. In fact, when asking a question, only one or two answers will actually be legit! This is in come categories more than others. (Warning: Avoid the Religion section, because whatever your belief, you will be berated and/or jeered because of it.) Sometimes you will come across a very friendly person who really wants to offer their advice. It's a fun site to visit, but not for actual answers.

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Kid, 12 years old
September 4, 2010
 
weird
It's okay, but some people put the worst questions, like "I think my cat can talk to me.... what do I do?"

Flag as inappropriate 
Educator and Parent
August 27, 2011
 
Yahoo! Answers allows assisted suicide! Please read!
DISCLAIMER: This is my opinion based on my experience over the last year. I've spent over 800hrs and witnessed both good and bad. These are my views and thoughts regarding Yahoo! Answers. I've had the opportunity over the last year or so to watch Yahoo! Answers be completely over run AGAIN (like in 2005) by those who are determined to spread lies through impersonations and misrepresentations. In the Religion and Spirituality section I have witnessed suicidal teens who have been talked out of suicide and have been helped and recovered! Lately with the overwhelming and uncontrolled increase of those who openly claim to follow Satan, Yahoo! Answers has become a safe haven and command post for acts of evil! THIS IS NO PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO BE LINGERING! YAHOO HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND HAS REFUSED EVEN IN LIGHT OF A RECENT INCIDENT WHERE A SUICIDE WAS BEING ENCOURAGED AND BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT! THE LIFE OF A CHILD HAS BEEN LOST AND YAHOO HAS REFUSED TO TAKE NOTICE! THEY ALSO REFUSE TO IMPOSE SAFEGUARDS TO HELP PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN! IT'S CRIMINAL AND UNSAFE AND PARENTS AROUND THE WORLD SHOULD REFUSE ACCESS WHENEVER POSSIBLE! Imagine if that 16 yr old was your child and Yahoo made no effort to protect against this type of assisted suicide! It's wrong, immoral, unethical and Yahoo doesn't care. Show them that you do!

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 17 years old
September 11, 2009
 
Sometimes helpful
If you're looking up a substitute for an ingredient in a recipe or something similar Yahoo! Answers is very useful. However, there is a lot of spam.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
September 26, 2010
 
Great for 13 and up
Very helpful and fun! Love this site!!!

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Kid, 13 years old
March 9, 2011
 
camron
camron

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 2, 2011
 
Let Your KIds Use Yahoo Answers
It's like answers* but it is yahoo answers i use it all the time and i get the rigth information all the time when i was in middle school i did a report and it was based mostely on yahoo anwsers so lest your kids use yahoo answers

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Adult
October 18, 2010
 
Not recommended
Yahoo! Answers have posters who sign on with numerous ID's and post trash & spam. The entire admin. department believe they are so in control and frankly are terribly bigheaded. They really do not know anything that goes on. For instance, any poster can tag someone's post as abusive and the Yahoo! admins. will automatically penalise the poster with the supposed abusive message unless said poster can prove to them it's not. The admins., therefore, do not truly investigate a post as being abusive unless the accused protests. Yet they make everyone feel that they're so important. If you question them they either feel they want to reply or they will just ignore your questions. This is truly unprofessional, in my opinion, because I'm a participant on other website forums where the admins. do not act like a brainless, bigheaded God as they do at Yahoo! Answers. Thus, I do not recommend this website for any age group!

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This review was written by Conny Coon
This review was written by Conny Coon

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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