Parents' Guide to

the-n

By Dana Cotter, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Teens get an all-access pass to the N TV network.

Website http://www.teennick.com/
the-n Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

shawtie55
shawtie55 Adult
June 11, 2009
age 15+

Caution! Crime Scene Ahead

The-n is a great site, I'll admit that. I even have an account. But parents need to be aware of what is on the site. Language is monitored to a degree, but so many people write the word in another way, that it is obvious. This is considered acceptable. The quiz content can sometimes be a bit more mature. The shows! Oh the shows! That is where you run into danger. There is the typical kissing, hugging stuff going on, but drugs are shown, and so is violence. In one episode of Degrassi when I first started watching I was stunned, and have not watched an episode since. There is a party with alcohol, drugs, and sex. But when one person is leaving there are some kids who don't like him, and as they are leaving he is getting into the car, but one of the bullies turns around, runs at the guy getting into his car and stabs him in the back. All of this is shown on the screen. Nothing is left out. The worst part of it is that Degrassi is rated TV-PG. I was disgusted. So parents be aware. I would suggest going on The-n with your child, or being in the same room with the computer and monitoring strictly what they are doing. The-n is like a fire. Fire is good if it is kept in hand, but you let it get out of hand and it can destroy so many things.
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What’s It About?

THE-N.COM is an online community based on the television network the N, which airs popular teen shows such as Degrassi, Beyond the Break, and South of Nowhere. Kids can take personality quizzes; play games; watch clips or previous episodes of shows; buy wallpaper, ring tones, or animations for their cell phones; and chat on message boards -- mostly about N TV-related topics. Each show also has its own section with videos, pictures, episode descriptions, character bios, cast interviews, downloads, and message boards. The "Games & Quizzes" area provides quite a bit of entertainment as well as some skill-building exercises. Membership is free, and once teens log on, they can receive "Nmails" (emails from/to other members) and search for friends on the site based on similar profiles. Each member can build an avatar, complete with clothing, hair, and accessories purchased with "creds" (earned by navigating throughout the site) at the Avatar Mall.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (5):

If your teen is a big fan of N TV's shows, he or she will most likely enjoy clicking around this site. Be aware that the streaming video isn't censored, so kids see the shows as just they air -- complete with drinking, drug use, sexual activity, fights, and questionable judgment.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the questions in the personality quizzes such as: "How Emo Are You?" or "What's Your Internet Personality?" Are the results truly representative of the person who takes the poll? Families can also discuss the "Hook-Up" -- a game that involves intense simulated conversations where players are scored based on how their responses impact a computer-generated character. How do you think this differs from real-life conversation?

Website Details

  • Genre: Fan Sites
  • Pricing structure: Free
  • Last updated: November 4, 2015

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