There are many websites on the Internet suitable for children aged around five to 12 years of age, on which they can create avatars (virtual people) and chat with other users. Typically, these sites will allow kids to design and dress up their avatar, play games, explore a virtual world and socialize. Of course, it is the chat aspect of these websites that parents are often worried about. As anyone is free to access these sites, many people abuse the system and use them to exploit children. It is essential children use only approved sites with moderated and filtered chat. As well as this, they should be under parental supervision when using these sites at all times.
One popular avatar chat game for under 13s is Club Penguin. At Club Penguin, users can adopt their own avatar penguin and dress it up. They can also get their own igloo home and decorate it with furniture. There are many fun games on the site, some allowing players to win virtual ‘gold’ which can be spent in various places on the site. Players can also walk around in the virtual penguin world and interact with one another. All chat is filtered and moderated, and users can write their own messages. However, it should be noted that it is possible for abusers of the system to get through these walls, so parent supervision is important at all times.
Another parent-approved website is Pandanda. Pandanda is a free kids social community where users interactive and play as panda avatars. Many parents prefer this virtual world as they can enforce ‘safe chat’. With safe chat, users can’t write their own messages - instead, they interact with chosen words and phrases from the websites approved safe communication list.
One popular avatar chat game for under 13s is Club Penguin. At Club Penguin, users can adopt their own avatar penguin and dress it up. They can also get their own igloo home and decorate it with furniture. There are many fun games on the site, some allowing players to win virtual ‘gold’ which can be spent in various places on the site. Players can also walk around in the virtual penguin world and interact with one another. All chat is filtered and moderated, and users can write their own messages. However, it should be noted that it is possible for abusers of the system to get through these walls, so parent supervision is important at all times.
Another parent-approved website is Pandanda. Pandanda is a free kids social community where users interactive and play as panda avatars. Many parents prefer this virtual world as they can enforce ‘safe chat’. With safe chat, users can’t write their own messages - instead, they interact with chosen words and phrases from the websites approved safe communication list.
