 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Habbo
Common Sense Media says
Foul talk and sexy chat rooms dominate virtual world.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that ads and foul, sexist, and homophobic language run thick on Habbo, a popular teen chat and gaming site. Avatars sling absolutely vulgar talk at each other in the public rooms, some of the more popular rooms being the "Sexy Singles Club" and "Love in this Club [beds]." Some chat rooms are locked. Moderators can reportedly ban users for hours, days, or even permanently for offenses. Teens buy Habbo Coins to pay for stuff to decorate their personal hotel room, play games, buy music, and more. The coins are $9.95 in real money for 60 coins. Users must pay to do almost anything engaging on the site (other than walking around and participating in chats), including most games.
What's it about?
HABBO.COM touts itself as a free virtual community where teens can design their own hotel room, participate in chats, play games, listen to music, and explore the Habbo world, all in a moderated, filtered environment. No one under 13 is allowed to use the site (although if you type in your age as 10 or 11, you're still able to sign up), and users under 18 are supposed to have parental assistance to register, according to site rules. Once registered with a birth date and email address, kids create their own avatar, choosing from fun options like bunny ears and purple hair to face shape and skin tone. The avatars then hang out in one of the many colorful and inviting virtual meeting areas. Helpful "HabboX" experts hang out, ready to lend a hand to newbies. The currency used on the site is called Habbo Coins -- which cost real money.
Is it any good?
It's hard to find redeeming qualities that explain the popularity of the online gaming community Habbo, which claims to "improve social skills and creativity," other than the fact that it admits that the content here "may not be appropriate for all ages." That's an understatement. There's vulgar, sexual, mean, and racist talk ("ur mom is sukin me now," "Shiite," and the "N" word, for example) that gets through the safeguards. Users purposely misspell words to get them through the filters. And the overabundance of ads popping up every time you enter a new area makes it nearly impossible to get anywhere without the implantation of buying messages.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about safety in virtual worlds. This site is popular with teens, but does this site constitute safe Internet use for your teen? What kind of information should be off limits, and what's OK to tell people?
Families can also discuss consumerism in virtual worlds. What are users really getting in return for their cash by buying pretend stuff in this pseudo-world?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Okay Website :P
I think,this is a FINE website cuz if yooh wanna say yoohr a badword or yoohr number or adress Habbo Auotmatically banns yooh or Warns yooh.It'z An Okay Website For My Kidz 12+ Habbostaff should consider giving some coins free, Why waste Money On buying those Shxttty Card thingyss?Habbostaff Make Coins Free! :P
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Iffy,
It's really iffy, I mean, you can't blame Habbo for everything. The KIDS are sending the messages. Not HABBO STAFF. KIDS are sending the messages, weither they are sexual or anything. I mean, their messages are opinion. Unless it's a straight fact. You may say "he so gay" but he may not be. Opinions opinions opinions. Why are you thinking "NOT APPROPRIATE" if you think it isn't appropriate, ban your kids from it. And it isn't everyone. I've been on habbo before, several time actually, and I see nothing wrong with the stuff. (not including the messages) Guys(some)try to get girls on there, which I find rather stupid, I mean, we call people names, but it's because we have a good reason to. If you had a kid that was always asking "what is this?" and stuff, would you not get annoyed, and if they were always asking "who wants to date".
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 10 years old
November 3, 2009
AGE
perfect for 15 and up
habbo is a place where you can make a virtual you, but the thing is that there is what too many bad language, too sexual, and too much drugs drinking and smoking
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
not appropriate, move on
I have went on this site. The problem is, there are rooms that people create. There are themes that you can label them. There are these "love" rooms that have to do with sex. So i went into one, and there were nonstop dirty stuff spilling out of people's mouthes. This one girl said "Who wants to f*** me" If you are under fifteen, dont go on this site.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
April 10, 2010
AGE
The worst site I've EVER been on.
Okay, where do I start? You can say WHATEVER you want to people without any consiquences (excuse my spelling). I went on this site, and there was so much innapropriate things on there, it basically ruined my childhood. There was user-made places labeled "beds", "gays/bis/lezbo's here", "s*x party", and more. Tons upon tons of online dating, also. This is just completely obscene, this site. I should've listened to it when it said "TEENS ONLY!". I've seen people have sex over the internet on this website. I won't say, but in one issue I've seen, the word "suck" is involved. Do NOT go on this site unless you are 15 or older.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Perfect for tweens and teens.
You know, our kids are gonna go out in the world not knowing anything that's goes on if they don't learn, The Sex is a little Problem but if u trust your kid they won't go in the rooms like that, The language is really bad but then again....what site can you really get past the language I think this is a fine site and It's great for 12 year olds and +! Good job habbo staff. If u don't think this is a good report u need 2 have a little fun :).
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Ok.......10- seems a little too young.....11+ seems ok but 13+ is best.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
If the kid using the site is mature then go ahead, let them.
It's not the sites fault for the laungage being used. There are "ignore" buttons for when people are cussing, fighting or being rude in general and there are MODs which they can call for using the blue question mark. I've been using Habbo for about a year now and I've had HC [didn't win coins but bought them] but I found it more fun to just participate in chats and just have fun. If you just ignore the mean people then you can have a great day. The real problem are new-bee's thinking that everyone does vertual drugs, vertual cursing, and vertual sex. Most of them are probably 9-11. My sister is 10 and she thought the same thing. I sat her down and told her other wise and now she really enjoys it. Dont give it bad rating for the kids, the site does all it can.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Perfect for 11+
I use it. Im thirteen and if u try and curse or say the word: sex it blocks it with the word bobba. So its safer than the site thinks.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Save your kids from endless drama and bullying.
Habbo, it's THE place for a kid to have some fun and chat with other teens in a safe environtment - says Sulake. But when you're actually on it for a day you'll see users trying to do long distance dating and showing severe sexual behaviour. On top of that users have a certain way of making people believe they're friends. But they're just friends for pixelised properties. Note that games like Habbo are entirely "private" which means that every user could be someone else then he says he is.
All in all, Habbo is not the place to let your kids go on. It only produces constant drama and a bullying attitude to your kids.
It will not educate your kid in any way except how to ruin peoples lives and show off their body.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Genre: | Virtual Worlds |
Contact us to give us more feedback on our learning ratings.
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already visited it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
