Parents' Guide to

PBSKids.org/DontBuyIt

By Jean Armour Polly, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Interactive site for media consumers of all ages.

Website http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/
PBSKids.org/DontBuyIt Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 9+

Based on 1 parent review

Cathy Feldhake
Cathy Feldhake Adult
November 19, 2017
age 9+

no longer available

This was a great website to teach kids about advertising tricks. It was flash based, so it seems to be gone.
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

Are you a smart media consumer? Do you have the skills to question and evaluate the advertising messages that bombard you everyday? If not, you'll learn a lot from this site. Even if you think you're pretty savvy, stop by and put your expertise on the line. Check out the advertising tricks section. Notice the banner ads on the top of the page? They feature some of the most common tricks Web sites use to get you to click. The Entertainment section tells all about how they make those magazine models look so gorgeous and how rock stars are packaged to appeal. In other things to do, try designing your own ad or your own cereal box. Find out how the choices you make affect the sales of your product. Finally, there's a section on what kids can do about all this: Tell the toy makers and media outlets what you think. Addresses and emails are provided.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

This super-smart site does a great job debunking the tricks of the advertising trade with a "show, don't tell" approach. Rather than just reading about concepts, users can test their skills spotting sneaky ads or trying to distinguish designer duds from thrifty alternatives. The information is simple enough for tweens to digest, but teens and adults will probably learn a few things, too. A colorful, clean design complements the content perfectly.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about media messages while playing the games together.

Website Details

  • Genre: Educational
  • Pricing structure: Free
  • Last updated: July 14, 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 suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate