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YouthNoise (http://www.youthnoise.com)

common sense media says

Social networking with a global issues bent.

parents & educators say
See 2 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this global social networking site doesn't pull any punches when it comes to discussing social and political issues. There are forums, chat rooms, message board, videos, information about local politics, and "channels" filled with news, debates, and resources dedicated to different causes such as violence, poverty, and religion. The content and discussions are frank and real which makes it a great place for activism-minded kids and young adults.

Educational value: Offers an excellent resource for kids and young adults to learn about social and political issues, and how they can make a difference in the world.
Positive messages: The site encourages kids to learn about and speak their minds about the environment, politics, homelessness, war -- whatever issues teens face. More than that, it urges kids to turn their interests into action.
Violence: There's honest information about political issues. Contains user-submitted content that's sometimes graphic (videos of clubbed seals, for example).
Sex: Contains user-submitted content that's sometimes graphic and has frank discussions of sexual issues, both personal and political.
Language: What you'd expect with user-generated content. Moderators are trolling the site 24/7 and supposedly anything that's considered intolerable is the flagged and deleted.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Message boards contain information about drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, but in an educational context.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on YouthNoise

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about each of the real issues that teens face that the site covers, from safe sex to environmentalism. Do you think you should have sex before getting married? How much should the minimum wage be? How does racial profiling contribute to terrorism? You can also talk to your kids about how they can use the resources on the site to become more involved citizens by turning their interests into actions.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The site is not for little kids, and sometimes not for the faint of heart. Real social issues are tackled with maturity and clarity, from sex education to child labor to terrorism. Youth correspondents known as CitiJos (citizen journalists), for instance, contribute content ranging from video interviews with local politicians to essays on the personal turned political, like one teen's struggle with intolerance of her homosexuality. Other site features offer not just information, but a call to action.

The amount of content offered on YouthNoise is staggering, and very little of it is filler, but tech-savvy budding activists should have no problem navigating through it, especially if they use the personalization features to drill down to their favorite causes.

This review was written by Angela Tiene
 
 

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mitche
teen, 17 years old
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hey take me on my yahoo*
i hop so
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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
Our child development rating guidelines