Mattel have launched BarbieGirls.com, which they claim is the "first-ever global online community designed exclusively for girls". In other words, it's The Sims, but Barbie-branded, online and free.
Designed to be a safe place for girls to play and interact online, the beta version of BarbieGirls.comSM gives girls the creative power to customize their own virtual character, design their own "room," shop at the mall, play games, hang out and chat live with other girls.
Chat live with other girls? I've seen sites like that before. "Investigating", I found I needed to create an account in this "safe, secure" environment before I could chat. I was logged in as an 8 year-old girl within two minutes. Avid readers will know that I am not an eight year-old girl. You can see where I'm going with this.
Parents, don't let your kids use this. Not for the security concerns, though - that goes for anywhere, since NOWHERE IS SAFE ON THE INTERNETS. No, you shouldn't let them play because they'll be exposed to words like "B-Cafe" and "crib". No responsible parent would allow their children to learn words like "B-Cafe".
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