Neopets - Are they safe?

Question

Why do you think so many people are interested in Neopets? My daughter is very interested in Neopets. Should I be concerned? Do they have any unsavory practices?

Answer 1

Neopets’ success hasn’t come without controversy.

Some of the things that have made the site a successful business—its “stickiness” (how long users stay on the site), its use of what it calls “immersive advertising” (the site’s equivalent of film or TV product placement) and games that involve virtual gambling—have alarmed some parents, critics and even Neopets users.

“The computer and the Internet are not the greatest social interaction instruments,” says Ivor Weiner, an assistant professor at Cal State Northridge, who specializes in examining the effects of media on children.

Weiner, like some parents, worries that kids using Neopets excessively would be better off playing with their peers face to face, rather than spending time with virtual pets.

There are also those, including Ralph Nader’s Commercial Alert consumer advocacy group, who find the site’s not-so-subliminal advertising offensive.

On Neopets, users and their pets can visit a virtual McDonald’s or a Disney Theatre and purchase virtual versions of real products with their Neopoints or play advertiser-sponsored games.

Neopets isn’t only for kids. In fact, according to the company’s research, 21% of its users are 18 or older.

Irene Potter, a 33-year-old teacher from Burbank, is among that group. Three years ago, she applied for a market research position with Neopets.

She visited the site, created an account and explored it in preparation for her interview. Although she didn’t get the job, she continues to regularly visit the site, even after making a career change to education.

“Neopets has games that are sort of mindless, innocuous, fun diversions,” she says.

Though Potter enjoys the site, she wonders if some of the virtual gambling games and Neomail functions are appropriate for children.

“The games can be really addictive,” she says.

When she received a Neomail from one user, asking her to be her Neofriend, she became a little uncomfortable.

“I just thought, if I was a little kid, without adult supervision, this could be a little scary or weird,” she says.

Neopets executives point out that users must be 13 or older to use the site’s Neomail or message boards unless they have written parental permission.

“In addition to that, we have several mechanisms in place just to make sure the site stays safe and family-friendly,” says Stephanie Yost Cameron, Neopets’ general counsel and executive vice president of business and legal affairs.

Those mechanisms include 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week monitoring of the site as well as proprietary filtering software that searches and weeds out potentially offensive language.

The site also encourages users to report inappropriate behavior.

A mother of three children, Cameron understands the concerns that some parents have about their children spending too much time in front of the computer, but she says Neopets offers a more interactive and educational experience than television.

“It’s a place where they have to think, they have to use their minds,” she says.

“They’re playing math games and drawing pictures, writing stories and learning to be a shopkeeper.”

Regarding advertising, Cameron says the site has far less than television “when you compare a kids’ half-hour TV show, which has eight to 10 minutes of advertising out of 30, versus millions of pages of content where far less than 1% has any advertising on it at all.”

Micah’s mother, Merrill Simon, doesn’t have any problem with the content or advertising on Neopets.

“I think it’s more innocent and less violent than ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!,’ “ she says, referring to the animated TV series and card game. “And the advertising I’ve seen on it is pretty low-key compared to other sites.”

Even Cal State Northridge’s Weiner, who has mild concerns about younger children being exposed to words such as “evil,” “cheat” and “destruction,” says that Neopets can be used in a positive manner and as a teaching tool or motivator.

“There are far worse things happening on television that kids are watching that concern me,” Weiner says. “If kids are really interested in them, then we as adults should turn it around on them and begin using these Neopets to teach them something.”

Answer 2

There's nothing wrong with neopets and their message boards are safe too. Any inappropriate content on their boards doesn't stay for long. Neopets can also help to teach a child the value of money, since they have to earn neopoints in order to buy things for their pet. I think neopets is very safe.

Answer 3

I have a neopet. My daughters in college have neopets since they were in high school. My youngest told me the things she learned in neopets about investing neopoints helped her understand their lessons in economics. It helped her understand how the stock-market works.

Although I don't go into those battle areas, I went into neopets out of curiosity. So at least me and my daughters have some common thing to talk about.

I also heard the mom of my brother's wife feeds her daughters neopet when she is out of the country.

It's a cool thing. Well, at least if you get involved in it too, you will know and understand what your kids are going into.

Answer 4

I played neopets everyday for 2 years and on accident one day I traded one of the rarest items in the game for the most common I cried for a day and quit playing for a month. I started playing again but not as much. I've lost my passwords now but they are safe. You aren't supposed to talk about real life in the game so if that's what you're worried about. It's quite fun and addicting but harmless.

Answer 5

They are safe and harmless. I have 4 accounts on Neopets myself.

Answer 6

I used to have neopets but I grew outta it and I turned out fine. I do think the betting on those races thing isn't a good habit to put into young children's minds just forbid her to do that.

Answer 7

Neopets r totally harmless.they r cute and fun so who in the right mind should be concerned.

Answer 8

I think they're fine as long as you don't mind her playing online games. You can set a level as to what she can do on Neopets, for example so she can't talk to other players.

Answer 9

Yup, neopets is safe, I played it when I was young. The game is only for young people.

Answer 10

neopets are easy and fun.
they have games to teach kids math or vocabulary skills.
from the games, kids will get points, so kids compete with each other. however, don't let them play it too much.
the computer will hurt the eyes and body