Neopets - Fun Websites for Kids Neopets is a social networking massively multi-player video game (MMOG) virtual pet website that was created in 1997 and launched in November 1999 by a completely independent web design service and a marketing specialist. Viacom currently owns the web site in association with Nickelodeon. The web site is targeted at children from age 6 to 16. The foundation of the site is the member's ability to adopt and take care of a virtual pet. Pets could be cute and cuddly non-threatening animated animals or obscure-looking aliens and monsters.
buy neopointsFeatures
Neopets is set within the fantasy realm of Neopia, that has its very own time zone, calendar and currency called the Neopoint. Members will soon realize that earning money may be the main focus of the game, which is why the earth has its very own stock market. Sign ups of Neopets adopt a virtual pet to start the sport. Users are allowed to adopt and take care of multiple pets - however just one pet qualifies the user to amass Neopoints. Users take care of their pets by solving puzzles and playing games. Games allow players to earn Neopoints. In order to properly take care of their pets, players buy them food, clothing, shelter and household items. If a player doesn't properly take care of their pet, it does not die - it simply falls ill.
What's Good
Neopets is a reasonably innocent-looking website that will appeal mainly to girls age 8 or more who are interested in nurturing and making new friends. Most of the pets that players adopt are non-threatening. Most of the facial expressions are kind and friendly. You will find simply no adult themes in the game or online. There is no drinking, smoking, drug use, sex or offensive language. The only real violence that can occur comes about when pets are involved in Battledome; but even here there is no blood or gore - only sparring. Neopets offers children the chance to care for and nurture a virtual pet. Children will become familiar with the basics of the items it takes to become responsible - not just with a pet, however with money.
buy neopointsWhat's Bad
The high degree of advertising on Neopets is cause of a lot of concern. It is clear that the marketing expert was in around the design of this website. Hiding a dollar sign behind cutesy images targeted at children is low. Causing children being massively hooked on consumerism in instances when the opposite should be the case shows that the need for cash is more essential than the usual social conscious. It doesn't even take into account the merchandise that children might be swayed into buying on the website's shopping mall. Parents need to have a lock on their own wallets and purses.
Online Safety
Neopets has been doing an above-average job of promoting online safety. Even though site collects personal data, it discourages unacceptable behavior and silences those users who have broken the terms and conditions of membership. Moderators known as The Neopets Team (TNT) are active and plentiful online, forums and chat. The website requires the parents of kids age 13 and also over who wish to take part in forums to fax inside a signed consent form.