Letters to the Editor
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not all sites are bad
Ok so before I get into this I admit it - I'm biased. As a sometime player of World of Warcraft, I have a soft spot for social communities and online games.
I think there is a lot of hysteria out there about kids playing games and getting into social networking sites. From the 'predator' articles in the MSM about MySpace, to the 'your kid is an EverQuest junkie' articles, there seems to be a lack of balance.
Insidious advertising to children is bad, but it certainally isn't limited to the internet. In fact, there is a whole boatload more of such advertising on TV. And lets not forget that traditional barbie (you know, the REAL doll) comes with a whole host of accessories that are commercial tie ins (pink corvette anyone?) So the internet isn't any worse in this regard.
Playing online is a cool way for kids to interact with people who AREN'T their neighbors, and can expose them people from different places in a kind of pen-pal type situation from the days of yore.
Not only that, but a lot of these sites teach a sort of responsiblity. Live in a little appartment too small for a real pet? Want your kid to test drive the idea of responsible pet ownership before they drive? Maybe letting them play Neopets is a good way to see if they're even remotely ready for the responsibility.
Club Pengin is another insteresting one, where kids can learn to save credits to buy 'virtual goods'. 'turning kids into little capitalist consumers!' you say... perhaps. But also teaching them how to save and have the basic foundations of fiscal responsibility...
All I'm saying is the issue of children's online networking sites is more complex than 'they're rotting their brains with virtual barbie' or 'they should go outside'.
Try and look at it from a bit more of a balances perspective next time.