Parents' Guide to

ZEPETO

By Neilie Johnson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Cute but buggy avatar maker has ads, materialism, strangers.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android Free Social Networking
ZEPETO Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • ZEPETO App - Screenshot #1
  • ZEPETO App - Screenshot #2
  • ZEPETO App - Screenshot #3
  • ZEPETO App - Screenshot #4
  • ZEPETO App - Screenshot #5

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 19 parent reviews

Faline S.
Faline S. Adult
June 24, 2023
age 12+
First of all, other adults are being waaay to dramatic. Yes, it has inappropriate content, such as clothes or avatars. But, there are ways to stay safe like removing the ability to send or see chats, or just don't play the game at all. From what I've seen, there's no sexual activity, unless you go in a dating group or world. I usually just see kids trying to be cool by cussing or saying that they have boyfriends/girlfriends. Though, if you don't want your child exposed to this, don't let them play it. As many people know, some kids are already exposed to that stuff. Through online platforms, or from peers. It all just depends, if you're kid isn't suitable with that stuff it's a no, and personally, its 12+ reasonably. In conclusion, it's a fun game with fun mini-games and worlds, and it's quite fun to make an avatar, but there is some disturbing or inappropriate things. If you don't tolerate with your kid exposed to those things then just don't let them play it, it's honestly that simple.

This title has:

Easy to play/use
2 people found this helpful.
Teacher1
Teacher1 Adult
September 3, 2023
age 18+

Parents beware this is a dangerous app

This is a dangerous online community. My child was told to F* off and kill herself by someone. There is nothing remotely appropriate for anyone in this app. Adults can choose to use it - but it’s creepy.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 19 parent reviews

Privacy Rating Warning

  • Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is not used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
Learn more about our privacy ratings

What’s It About?

ZEPETO is a free social media app that lets you create a 3D digital character (called a Zepeto) from a picture of yourself and share it on social media. Auto-generated characters can be customized with a series of menus and sliders that let you alter things like hair style/color, face shape, eye shape/color, and clothing style. New users start with a handful of simple items and are encouraged to unlock/buy more with in-app currency. Currency is earned by playing a simple mini-game, or can be bought with real-world cash. In-app ads encourage users to visit the item shop, which carries a range of vanity items (clothing, hairstyles, accessories) as well as furniture, flooring, and wall décor for each avatar's custom "home." Completing "Quests" (watching ads) also unlocks items. You can follow and "like" other Zepetos, search for Zepetos via friend code, follow Zepetos suggested by the app, or "meet" other Zepetos in a place called "Z Street." Built-in screenshot and video tech lets you take pictures and videos of your Zepetos and share them through social media.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (42 ):

Upgrading your virtual self with stuff is irresistible to many and fun for some, but the ads, purchases, and chat with strangers makes it best for older teens. This simple app is a "gimme" as far as social media popularity goes. Like other character-creation apps, it lets users create perfect fantasy versions of themselves in digital 3D and customize them with heaps of digital items, which allows for some degree of creativity. And it's definitely cute with appealing graphics and some entertainment value. Though using 3D avatars for online ID could be safer for your kids than using actual photos of themselves, it could also help them misrepresent themselves online -- and let others do the same. Since the app's main thrust is sharing images and videos of avatars on social media, this could definitely be an issue. Parents could also object to the app's emphasis on representation and item collection, since it encourages status-seeking and materialism. The desire to collect followers and "likes" with fancy custom avatars could push kids to buy, thus obsessively playing the currency mini-game to earn in-app gold or pestering parents for real-world cash. An in-app Quest system is meant as a means of earning currency, but the system is broken as of this writing. Until the system's fixed, users are pushed to watch ads. Unfortunately, in addition to the Quest system, other parts of the interface are also broken or only partially functional. Parents might not love the idea of their kids watching ad after ad, and the app's anonymous Follow function and direct messaging might not thrill them either. All told, it's an imperfect but entertaining app that's best for older teens if you know how -- and how much -- your kids are using it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Discuss internet safety and talking to strangers online in apps like Zepeto. What kind of information should you never share online? Why is it risky to talk to strangers online?

  • Families can talk about "keeping up with the Joneses." How important is social status to your kids, and how connected is it to material things?

  • Think about how your kids' online personas. What are the possible consequences of misrepresenting yourself online?

  • Talk about in-app purchases and the temptation to buy more features. What are your rules and limits?

App Details

  • Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
  • Pricing structure: Free (with ads and optional in-app purchases)
  • Release date: November 21, 2018
  • Category: Social Networking
  • Publisher: SNOW Corporation
  • Version: 2.3
  • Minimum software requirements: iOS 9.0 or later; Android 5.1 and up
  • Last updated: December 3, 2018

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