Skid-e-Kids

SKID-E-KIDS offers less interaction than Facebook or MySpace -- which allow users to interact via comments and status update -- plus parental tracking tools so parents can monitor their kids' communications. The emphasis on safe social networking is great; however, the site has a few confusing components. The parental controls work best if parents register their kids; however, kids can also easily register themselves, in which case parents won't be able to view their kid's account without knowing the log-in information. A section allowing kids to sell/swap toys seems a bit unrealistic; many of the prices are outrageously high ($359 for a Justin Bieber poster?). In addition, there's a paid registration option that costs $24 a year -- but it's unclear what extra amenities are offered. Users can easily log on, friend other users, access games and videos, and ask for homework help without a paid membership.

Also, although it's a picky point, for a site offering an admirable educational bent, there are also a fairly high number of typos/grammatical errors on the site -- game ratings are preceded by a "Who like this game?" message, for example. Skid-e-Kids does offer 7- to 14-year-olds a safer experience than many social networking sites -- but it could benefit from a little more instructional content and a good edit.

Online interaction: Kids can send each other messages through the site, even if the other user hasn't accepted their friend request. There's also a live chat option, although it appears there are still a few kinks to work out for chat to be functional on Macs.