Common Sense Media Review
By Leslie Crenna
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Super news site supports learning, contribution, community.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Videos and Photos
Youngzine
What's It About?
At first glance, Youngzine is an online magazine featuring current events, games, videos, and comics compiled and written by thoughtful in-house editors. Dig deeper and you'll find "young editors" and kid members authoring content from jokes to commentary on recent news stories and all types of contests from news quizzes to mystery photos and visual story prompts. After creating an account, kids can comment liberally on articles and debate with each other, but the supportive guidance of moderators is everpresent. Kids also can earn points and badges through exploration and contribution. The site is updated daily, though kids can view content archives as well.
Is It Any Good?
Youngzine's blog-style presentation is simple and sophisticated, and it's definitely accessible to its kid audience -- especially in the U Write, U Chat section and contest areas where kids can submit nearly any kind of original writing, photos, and videos of creative projects, personal stories, or even media reviews. The quality of kid contributions is quite high overall, and the grown-up written articles are clear as well (although a few grammatical errors appear from time to time). The most exciting thing about Youngzine, though, is that kids are actually engaging with the sometimes-dry news content; comments follow nearly every single article, joke, and review. It's great to see this positive response, and it's a testament to the welcoming community created by the developers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how to engage with the news. How can kids can do more research on the articles and topics they find interesting?
Talk to your kids about the difference between healthy debate and arguing online.
Website Details
- Subjects : Language & Reading : discussion , forming arguments , presenting to others , reading comprehension , storytelling , writing , writing clearly , Science : animals , engineering , ecosystems and the environment , weather , Social Studies : citizenship , cultural understanding , events , exploration , geography , global awareness , government , historical figures , power structures , Arts : dance , music , rhythm , Hobbies : cooking , sports
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , asking questions , decision-making , logic , thinking critically , Creativity : brainstorming , combining knowledge , imagination , producing new content , Self-Direction : academic development , achieving goals , effort , initiative , personal growth , Emotional Development : empathy , self-awareness , Communication : conveying messages effectively , friendship building , listening , multiple forms of expression , presenting , Responsibility & Ethics : respect for others , Tech Skills : using and applying technology
- Genre : Educational
- Pricing structure :
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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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