WhatsWhat.me

Review

Common Sense Media says

Tween social network with top-notch safety features.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that WhatsWhat.me is pretty much the same as any well-done social networking site, but with bumpers. Especially created for kids ages 7 to 13, the membership fee-based site (currently in Beta version) focuses on teaching kids safe and friendly online behavior. Kids who are too young for Facebook or who have had experiences with bullying or other negative interactions on social networking sites may feel more comfortable in this more structured environment. Only kids with access to a webcam can register. The "MeKey" sign-in with face recognition is a new login method unique to this site. There are two steps that are used to try to ensure the MeKey login is secure: First, the webcam-related facial recognition software; second, a human who checks the images each time the child logs on. At the time of this review, membership fees were $3.95/mo or $29.95/year.

  • Positive messages5
    Social networking can be fun, but tweens and young teens should start on sites that teach and limit users to appropriate behavior. Kids are encouraged to create groups of like-minded kids with other members in their own age group. There's a strong anti-bullying message here, too. 
  • Violence0
    The games selected are pre-approved by site creators for no violence. Photos, posts, or groups promoting violence, including bullying, are not allowed. New groups are pre-approved by a moderator.
  • Sex0
    A "shirts-on" policy means no swimsuit photos. Photos are reviewed by monitors and taken down if they are considered to be at all suggestive, and kids are given a warning and explanation why their photo has been removed. Posts and groups are also monitored for sexually suggestive topics.
  • Language0
    Professional moderators monitor the site, and anti-bullying rules are clear. Kids must approve posts of friends before they appear on their wall, and they can report inappropriate posts to monitors easily.
  • Consumerism2
    This is a pay-for-membership site, but there are no ads in the Beta phase, and developers say they don't plan on adding commercial ads in any phase of the site's development. Kids earn "Me Points" for prizes.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
  • Privacy & safety4
    Kids sign into their account through a webcam-based security system called the "MeKey" that recognizes them as the account holder by their face. There are two steps to make sure the login is secure: One, the facial recognition software; and two, a moderator who approves the image comparison each time the child logs in. The site rules tell kids not to post anything about what school they go to or any other clearly identifying information. Profiles can only be seen by other members your child friends. Parents must enter a credit card number and check the Terms and Conditions before a child is allowed to open an account. There is currently no system for parents to independently view their child's activity or time on the site. Parents are contacted if a child violates a site rule three times. A Parent's Resource Center tab gives parents information about online safety and more.
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Is it any good?

 

WhatsWhat.me was created by law enforcement and cyberspace experts, so the safety features are top-notch. As one of a number of sites competing for the "too young for Facebook" crowd, there aren't a lot of games or groups on this new site yet, so it may take a while to see how the content will develop and how kids will respond. One of the best features of this site is that site moderators turn any problem posts into "teachable moments" for the kids whose photos or posts are removed or whose group is rejected. Overall, this site has gone above and beyond to create a safe space for kids to learn how to interact safely and have fun with social networking. 

Online interaction: Lots of safeguards here for positive online interaction between members. All posts kids receive must be approved by them before being seen by others. Groups are pre-approved by moderators so you won't find mean groups. There is one-to-one, email-style messaging so kids could potentially use that as a way to get around the anti-bullying measures. Kids can only interact with other kids within one grade level above or below them, unless approved by their parents.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how to stand up to a cyberbully. This site has numerous rules and safeguards against bullying, but it's still a good idea to prepare your kids with information on the topic.

  • Families can talk about being safe online. Review Common Sense Media's Rules of the Road with your child to lay down basic online safety guidelines.

This review was written by Dana Villamagna
Parent of 8 year old
April 15, 2011
AGE
7
 
Safe place for tweens to connect online
I am so glad this site exists for my "tweens." They wanted to be on facebook but obviously that is not appropriate. This site enables them to connect with their friends online without the dangers of facebook and other sites.
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Helped me decide (59) | Had useful details (59) | Read my mind (83)
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Parent of 14 year old
May 14, 2011
AGE
14
 
lv.8
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Helped me decide (65) | Had useful details (56) | Read my mind (61)
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Kid, 12 years old
September 22, 2011
AGE
11
 
my review
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Helped me decide (25) | Had useful details (22) | Read my mind (23)
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Kid, 10 years old
May 9, 2012
AGE
18
 
Learning2
HATE IT
well it is not even a website i mean i signed up and all and it just was this stuid web`-
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This review was written by Dana Villamagna
Genre:Social Networking
This review was written by Dana Villamagna

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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