Common Sense Media Review
By Susan Yudt
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen writers express themselves on supportive social site.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Is It Any Good?
Journalists Jacob Lewis and Dana Goodyear created FIGMENT as a platform for creative self-expression, with a social networking twist. It's easy to get started creating a story, and the site offers options for cover and page design. Users can "heart," comment, and review stories as well as "follow" other writers à la Twitter. Overall, the criticism stays constructive; it helps that the site doesn't allow anonymous users to post. In addition to readers' creations, the site has a blog that features advice on writing from authors like Kathryn Erskine, who won a 2010 National Book Award. Overall, Figment is an excellent place for young writers to express themselves and work on improving their craft.
P.S.: Wondering who owns the rights to these stories? Figment notes, "Posting to the site grants Figment the right to display your work (until you decide to take it down), but does not mean you are giving up your ownership of your work."
Online interaction: Most of the feedback on stories is positive, with users offering encouragement or constructive criticism. It feels like a friendly, supportive community.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about teens and their "digital footprint." This site encourages writers to use their real names. What are the advantages of doing that? What are the potential drawbacks? Parents can encourage teens to think about their digital footprint when sharing stories, photos, and other personal content.
Families can also talk about respecting others' creative work online.
Website Details
- Subjects : Language & Reading : discussion , presenting to others , writing
- Skills : Self-Direction : academic development , motivation , self-assessment , Communication : conveying messages effectively , presenting , Creativity : imagination , producing new content , Thinking & Reasoning : defining problems , thinking critically
- Genre : Creating
- Pricing structure : Free
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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