Is Zynga’s YoVille OK for kids?
p2pnet news view Kids & Kartels | Games:- “YoVille is a world where you can buy new clothes for your player, purchase items for your apartment, go to work, and meet new friends,” says Facebook.
It’s also a place where kids can pretend to get drunk and where they can be picked up by sexual predators, says Emma Newton.
The application is social networking game for Facebook which, at 9:15 AM Pacific, was boasting 4,878,773 monthly active users.
Facebook says it provides links to applications “as a courtesy,” but makes, “no representations regarding the applications or any information related to them”.
We home school our daughter, Emma, and the Net is part of her life. It’s both an educational/research tool, and a way for her to hang out with friends online via a purpose-built home school application she uses all the time, together with other programmes.
I work online and I’ve spent hours explaining the pit-falls and the ups and downs of the Net and I’m fine with letting her go online to do pretty well what she wants to do within the two hours she’s theoretically allowed.
I say theoretically because I’m not looking over her shoulder all the time and I expect her to log off when it’s time to log off.
In other words, I trust her.
Sometimes my wife and I worry she’s too fond of the Net. But it’s an integral part of life in the digital 21st century and will become even more so as she grows up.
But parents worry about everything. It’s their job.
So when she asked if she could join YoVille, explaining it was a kind of virtual world, I said Yes, figuring if it was on Facebook, it couldn’t be too bad: that as mercenary as Facebook’s owners are, they’re not stupid enough to allow anything really offensive on the site.
Then last night, “Dad, can I do a post on Facebook for p2pnet?” – Emma, who’s 12, asked. Of course, I said. (As far as I and my wife, Liz, are concerned, writing this kind of thing is much the same as writing an essay in school, only better because it’s self-selected instead of imposed.)
So I logged on this morning and found the item below waiting for me — and I emphasise this is her own work written when I wasn’t around, and unedited by me.
I should also make it clear YoVille isn’t exclusively a Facebook application. It’s also on MySpace and for all I know, on other sites as well.
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THE REAL YOVILLE
Topics: Alchohol on YoVille / no age limit / pedophiles and people asking for “cam shows” / no chat filter / cyber bullying / Bikini bottoms are thongs / Gambling is encouraged.
YoVille is a world where you can buy new clothes for your player, purchase items for your apartment, go to work, and meet new friends,” says creator, Zynga. Sounds fun, and completly kid friendly right?
But to make a long story short, it’s anything BUT kid friendly! There is an extreme lack of a chat filter, allowing the “F Word” and others just as bad to be said freely, often in the presence of kids as young as 10!
Okay, so maybe they have a SMALL chat filter — IE if you say the full word (shit, for example) it gets blanked out as “yadda”. But if you put a space in between any of the letters (s hit) it gets through.
I think there should at least be an age limit for it (18+?), given how it’s easy for sexual predators to lure victims in, giving them YoMoney and items in return for this.
I have come across several people (usually men) as old as 43 trying to get girls as young as 13 to role play sexual acts via the game, and give so-called “cam shows”.
These basically consist of you giving them your cam adress, and stripping on cam.
I myself have been asked more times than I can count. Whenever I got asked, I basically told the person involved to go jump off a cliff.
Feel like getting drunk? Just head down to the all ages Sky Nightclub and grab a martini! Because they make it so FUN to get drunk!
Or feeling lucky? Just head down to the Casino!
There is no age limit for this game, making it possible for people of any age to be on.
In the Dating section of the Events page, there are usually sex parties. I once even saw one called “14 and under sx party”.
It’s a breeding ground for pedophiles and the like. I think that it’s best if kids don’t go on it at all.
I hope that by writing this, parents who have kids on YoVille will take a closer look into whether or not they REALLY want their kid on this.
Thanks for reading my rant 
Stay safe!
Emma Newton
================
Emma doesn’t go there any more. But her post shook me and, wanting to see if anyone else was concerned, I found Younger Kids on YoVille.
The first post said »»»
i thought that the yoville site was only suppose to be for adults 18 and up but yet there are a bunch of 13 and 14 year olds running around on there. i think in the terms of survice states the age for the site is 18 and some how they should be kicked off for lying about their ages both on facebook and on yoville. who agrees with me on this and hope they can do something about this.
However, Emma joined from her existing Facebook account, on which she clearly says she’s 12. And she told me YoVille didn’t ask her how old she was when she signed up for it.
She says ’skimmed’ the ToS and didn’t see anything there, although she might have missed it.
Anyway, “How many kidsd are going to read that?”- she asked.
Says another post on Younger Kids on YoVille »»»
This is far from the first (or I’m sure the last time) this issue has been brought up. Facebook and Yoville allow you to be at the youngest 13 if you are in highschool. And you are supposed to have parental consent to be able to be on this site. The thing is it’s not our responsibility to remove these kids from the site. It’s the parents responsibility to monitor their child. My 12 year old neice lies about her age to have a myspace (which you have to be 16 to have) and my sister in law agress to this behavior. So many suggestions have come out about making them their own server or banning them, but the facts are they’re gonna lie and the parents aren’t going to do anything to stop it. I recently likened it to getting a fake id and going to a club, same thing. Getting a friend to buy tickets to an R rated film, same thing. It’s not gonig to change. Just be aware of who might be around you and if the conversation gets too out of hand for younger players, move to a private room.
And there are other comments in much the same vein.
But as I said earlier, Emma wasn’t asked about her age. “When I signed up there were no terms of agreement,” she tells me. “There was just the page to create your character.
“The only thing that did pop up at first was something showing you how to use YoVille, all the different shops, and stuff.”
“It’s the parents responsibility to monitor their child,” says the post above, and I’d agree, up to a point.
Liz and I are probably far more aware of what Emma does and doesn’t do during her day than most parents. She’s with us most of the time, except when she’s with friends, out on her bike, and so on.
How can you stop kids from going to sites such as YoVille? You can’t, unless you’re hovering over them every minute of their online time. All you can do is make sure you’ve told them everything you can about the dangers, what to do, and what not to do.
IMHO, kids today are in far more danger offline than on.
We live in a tiny village on Vancouver Island and we see kids as young as eight or nine with makeup and tight jeans hanging with boys, day and night, summer and winter.
Where are their parents?
I often take the bus to Duncan, about half-an-hour away, and there are always six or seven young kids on it, using language and talking about things which as a dad, make my blood run cold.
They get off the bus and light up.
But back to YoVille: Emma decided she didn’t want to be on it any more, and I’m glad she did.
Facebook isn’t to blame for what goes on there, and nor is MySpace. However, the owners of both sites — and indeed of any site – decide what apps to allow, and what not to.
Facebook in particular claims to be a good corporate citizen, always looking out for the welfare of the people who use it. So maybe it’s time it and the other site owners paid a little more attention to what they link to and, by implication, approve of. Or not.
All an app needs to be accepted by users of any age is to be cool and engaging (look at Scroogle).
Jon Newton – p2pnet
March, 2009
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March 18th, 2009 at 10:43 am
very nice read made even more impressive considering it was written by an obviously very intelligent 12yr old. good job emma! and good job dad for raising such a well adjusted daughter.
this is how i will be raising my son. me and my wife plan on home schooling and introducing him to computers before he can walk, hes currently 4months and has his own aspire one which right now we simply use to induce a coma like state thanks to winamp visualizations, keeps him busy for a while
we currently carry him for most of day in a sling and thanks to him watching us work he already knows the dynamics of typing, not how to type of obviously but he knows that if you press a key its represented onscreen.
id be very proud if my son turns out like yourself emma.
July 16th, 2009 at 12:20 am
YOU are the first defense as a parent…………YOU should check out a new site FIRST………she is STILL 12 years old and not that she isn’t a very impressive one should NEVER rely on trust when it comes to the rest of the world. Call it defensive parenting 101. Just like teaching them to drive…………they may be fantastic drivers doesn’t mean they won’t get hit by someone else.
The internet is a HUGE place and still relatively new in the scheme of things. The site does require you to be 18. Many do, but you can’t really inforce that.
There are many Mom’s and Dad’s on the site that have fun playing it who do bring up their ages and we try but you can only do so much. I would recommend you check out new sites b4 approving anything. She’s going to be a teenager in the blink of an eye and BELIEVE me they need to be supervised more then than ever b4.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:54 pm
yes
July 24th, 2009 at 10:55 am
i was scammed all my money on yoville what shall i do
July 27th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
i like to let my child do what ever she whants
July 27th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
keep an eye on my child
July 27th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
i love my child so keep an eye on her
August 11th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
From all I’ve read it sounds like you are guarding her from the outer world pretty much. (Home school, permission for everything.) It’s… odd for person like me, living in Czech Republic. I know pretty much that school is sort of my only touch with outer world with the lifestyle I’ve chosen.
August 15th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Okay, my daughter just signed up for this YoVille game the other day when her friend sent her the request. The reason I was checking around was to see what can take place in the game. My daughter’s friend sent a kiss through the game and that seemed somewhat innocent except it seemed to describe it in a more special way than just a peck on the cheek greeting. Then my daughter clicked on some button for dance and the other character automatically comes on with something about let’s take it slow. So since my daughter is only on the acquantence level I just wanted to know how advanced this gets once you are best friends with someone.
Anyone actually know??????
August 30th, 2009 at 3:58 am
@ Nick
Once you are best friends things move to the bedroom. For a sneak peak of the graphic nature of these YoVillian character’s just head the character into the bathroom and click on the toilet. Hard to tell if this game is for children or adults. Somehow I suspect it attracts the immature adults and children. Either way it’s really not appropriate for anyone under the age of 16.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
ok i got scammed i was going to sell my 2 dogs,my white board ,and my t.v. for 22′000 all together but somehow when i put the stuff in the trade box thing he put in 1 coin and i only got one coin for all that stuff plz help me!!!!!!!
you already have my email address and my password is a12345
October 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
this is my first time doing this.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
have any of you sind up for yoville.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
is there any one on here.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
my brothers name is dj and my name is sara
October 5th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
my brother thinks he,s a super herry called ice man.
October 20th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
yes freaks
October 27th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
they need to make a kids only yoville
November 6th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Just let the kids have a Yoville like the adults. I Angel to want a Yoville and I am ongly 9 years old. I watch my mom,aunt,bigbrother,and bigsister play on Yoville and have fun. So you should take some time out and read this do what your heart tells you to do. It’s not my choise to tell you what to do it’s your choise do what you think is best for your life and don’t let others tell you what to do. If the children want a Yoville give one to them if your heart tells you to. Bye good luck and thanks.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I’ve played this game for over year and know quite a bit about this game…
btw I thought you had to be 13 to have a fb acct…
Anyways YoVille have two different batch of servers one for the 18+ and ones for the under 18’s it’s gets your age by your f/b m/s acct. And the ‘Drunk’ effect changed the name to ‘dizzy’ and the drink were renamed,too. Afterwards Zynga removed the whole thing completly for no reason. It was just a bit of fun.
Yeah, there are a lot of sick people on the game esp. the events in the ‘dating’ section and are quite crowded which is kinda worrying. Plus there are many shady people and trolls out there which isn’t great such as reporting you for no reason or giving you ’smack’ talk or vulgar language. Oh yeah and asking for your MSN/Yahoo ect.
Personally, I don’t think young kids will actually like the game as much a they think. ALOT of the things cost ‘yocash’ which to get you have to buy with real money or do surveys which pretty much are a scam. In addition, if the kid uses your fb acct and arn’t computer savvy. You could lose your acct because a lot of yovillians will say that you can get rich by filling out some form which asks for your email and password then they steal your stuff and might steal your fb acct. But if they’re not bothered about buying lots of stuff and stick to their own group of RL friends than yeah I think they’ll enjoy it for a bit.
But if your kid really wants to play YoVille then I suggest that you always watch over their shoulder – you never know what could happen!
Have a nice day!
@Nick:
Once the friendship ladder gets to best friends that’s it. No intimate crap or sex. lol
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:46 am
hmm well yoville is a good virtual world but there is alot of sex in it and i find it really horrible at times ..
December 6th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
YOU SUCK! more insight? why? if it was a scam then YES. but children will always risk finding something adultish if they were surfing the internet.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:54 am
I AM 11 YEARS AND YES I PLAY YOVILLE THE FRIST TIME I GOT THERE I THOUGHT IT WAS FUN AND I COULD WIN MONEY BY PLAYING TIC TAC TOE AND I HAVE THOSE FRIENDS THAT UR LEVEL GETS TO BE BEST FRIENDS AND NO THAT PERSON WHO SAID WEN UR BEST FRIENDS U GO TO THE BEDROOM THAT IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE I BECAME BEST FRIENDS THAT JUST MEANS U GET MORE COINS WEN U ARE THAT. AND YES U CAN HAVE SEX BUT DO U REALLY THINK THAT U CAN SHOW THE REAL BODY PARTS NO U CAN’T IT LEAVES U WITH A WHITE T-SHRIT AND WHITE PANTS WEN U HAVE SEX. WEN U TELL YOUR INFO LIKE UR E-MAIL U CAN’T SAY IT.IT SAYS YADDA.COM THAT IS ALL IT SAY AND U CAN’T DO ANYTHING WEN U ARE DOING SEX U JUST SIT ON A CHAIR AND NOTHING HAPPENS, BUT SOME GROSS PEOPLE DO THE SOUNDS AND THEY SAY NASTY STUFF BUT THEY CHOSE TO DO THAT. THE REASON I NO ABOUT HOW IT LOOKS LIKE WEN U HAVE SEX IN YOVILLE IS BECAUS MY LIL COUZIN THAT IS 9 YEARS OLD SHOWED ME IN YOUTUBE HOW IT GOES.SOME BAD PEOPLE LIKE HACKERS AND SCAMMERS CAN GO INVISABLE AND U CAN’T SEE THEM AND THEY RECORED WITH A REAL VIDEO CAMERA .AND WEN U GO TO THE CLUB THERE IS MUSIC YEA U CAN BUY DRINKS BUT U DRINK IT SO U CAN GET ENERGY.SO NOW U HEARD ABOUT YOVILLE SO I THINK FOR ME NOT JUST BECAUSE AM 11 BUT I THINK 6 GRADERS AND UP CAN USE IT BUT THAT IS UP TO THE PERENTS AND WEN SOME OF THE KIDS THAT ARE YOUNGER LIKE 10 AND DOWN ARE DOING BAD STUFF THERE THEN THE PERENTS SHOULD LET THEM PLAY IT . LIKE I SAID IT IS WAT UR KIDS DECID TO DO IN YOVILLE BUT LIKE KIDS THAT ARE 10 AND UNDER KEEP EN EYE ON THEM. BUT SOME JUST PLAY GAMES AND EARN COINS AND THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT HAVING FRIENDS ON THERE OR BOY FRIENDS . I DON’T TALK IN BAD WORDS OR DO ANY MEAN BULLYING ,HACK PEOPLE OR SCAM I JUST HANGOUT WITH FRIENDS WEN A BOY ASK ME OUT I DON’T ANSWER THEM . SO THANKS ABOUT READING MY STORY ON SHALL KIDS HAVE A YOVILLE OR NOT.
December 31st, 2009 at 4:06 am
yoville is so neutered… the “f word” along with a bunch of other swear words are filtered… they have “non alcoholic” beverages… the avatars are always clothed… the bikinis you’re talking about are not thong ones–you can’t see any butt cracks! if yoville offends you, i suggest you find a Montana militia group and move into the woods with them because life in the real world is going to drive you crazy… as far as pedophiles go, your kid has only a 10% chance of being molested by a total stranger; however, they have a 60% chance of being molested by someone close to your family and 30% chance of being molested by an actual family member… So basically, the internet perps are the least of your worries… Better to keep an eye on your husband, brother, son, pastor, neighbors, or child’s “real life” friends… (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/child-sexual-abuse.asp)
January 18th, 2010 at 4:20 am
logged onto farmville today with my daughter as she asked if she could play it and was approached by 2 (big daddys) the name made me start thinking of internet predators and after rreasearching it, eading this and browsing through yoville myself my daughter will be sticking with farmville!
January 18th, 2010 at 8:24 am
@ RW “logged onto farmville today”
Same company, same garbage.
Cheers!
January 25th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
I just wanted everyone to know about Yoville and the child sexual predator that was soliciting my 8yr old for sex. The worse part is that he knew her age and still asked her where she lived and if she wanted a threesome!! I thought these stupid little games like Farmville, Cafeworld, and Yoville were safe for the kids to play, but I was WRONG!!!! Please be carful and monitor what your children are doing… For now I have banded all games on Facebook, and I have reported Yoville to the Federal Trade Commission because Yoville has no age limit, and they encourage this type of behavior!!!!
January 30th, 2010 at 3:02 am
It’s only a game. If your child could not handle gambling fake money and drinking on a game, then don’t let them play. It’s your responsibility to make sure the game is ok to play for a child, (Not the creators.) I believe that it is ok to be introduced to people drinking and gambling. It happened every second of every day. If they’re going to do any of it, they’ll see it and do it later.( ridiculous if you ask me.)
February 5th, 2010 at 6:40 am
There are child predators galore in the events believe em Ive seen them. Looking for a 14 year old an event will read. There are also kkk meetings. Zyga needs to start taking responsibility for these things. Their greed has already created a cutthroat landscape in the game. Enough is enough boycott these scum applications.
February 26th, 2010 at 12:47 am
This is really stupid. You shouldn’t even let your kids on Facebook! You have to be in AT LEAST High School to play, and the parents who let their kids lie their age a big fags, because it’s not suitable for kids! There’s no age limit because Facebook thinks your at least 17 or 18!
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:30 pm
i dont like this game my son got rapted by a girl he just said hi and she started taking off her fucking clothes what the hell he said and then she said ass whole sit down
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
this is 4 fucking aldults
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:33 pm
i agree with kessy im letting my son get his ass of that
April 12th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
i hav a yovile acount n im 15. facebook alowd me to make a acount bein aware ov my tru age. im sik ov those crepz askn yuh for a gud tym n gvn their emails to c yuh on web cam. theyr a bunch ov weirdoes n any gurl dat givs into thm is just as bad.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
ur stupied taht is not true u lair
June 3rd, 2010 at 1:13 am
well yoville isnt a real place for kids because the most of the people are phedophiles or hackers ect. but some people think that they can let their kids on that well they are fags they shouldnt have let them have an account on either facebook or myspace because that gets them in more danger or addicted to the game and they dont want to get off or do anythings else just get on the game so my advice is to get ur kids off that game or dissconnect the internet because once they begin they cant stop
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:16 am
hi all of you please try to go home at facebook twitter and myspace and yahoo msn.com plz rate and comment
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:18 am
your stupid nathaline
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:21 am
yes im new from facebook but im just a kid to go in morrons this is why im so angry
June 12th, 2010 at 2:55 am
Stop swearing, there’s a 12 year old girl here! By the way I’m 13 …
I play just about all the Zynga games (Farmville, Mafia Wars, Cafè World ect.) exept Yo Ville. You can’t really interact with people on these games unless they’re your friends exept Yo Ville. I do hope they filter out this game atleast a little more, (ex. one-piece swimming suits, no gambling, no drinking ect.) but with 1mil+ daily players if they fixed these it may cause a huge loss in players. The biggest problem I’ve noticed is these dating parties. I too have seen this ages 14- only or whatever, thy people who do this are the most sickining creatures to roam this earth, pedofiles. This game should be able to access your facebook page and view your age and allow an age limit but even if it did the other problem remains, false ages. So what I suggest is for adults to watch over your children and limit them to the internet there is a way to block certain pages.
Hope I helped
-Alex
————-
http://www.p2pnet.net/story/40791
Hi Alex: Thanks for the comment. Go here.
Cheers! And thanks …
June 16th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
I like how people praise your daughter for doing the right thing but yet… she lied on her myspace application and you say it’s myspace fault? I know you can’t always watch your kids but she did it on her own so it’s her fault. She obvously knew they had an age limite and read the rules if she had to lie about her age…. I don’t praise liers.
Also most of the people who quit that game can’t make the money… I have a feel since she is 12 and does not know how to barter and sell items that she just couldn’t make the money to keep up. I know plenty of people quit cause of that reason. I know you want to sound proud of your daughter but honestly I think you stretch the truth a bit.
Kids are smart to do the right thing but the story you presented sounded a bit fishy.
June 18th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
i am 14 years old and been playing yoville since 12 and i know all bad stuff sexual stuff and sure we know everything u parents dont want they,re kids to know but some of us are smart and act like we dont know yoville isnt bad the only thing that can go wrong is if they give out and adrees or email or idk personal stuff sooo yea let us play yoville its a good addicting fun online game this is to all the parents out
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:26 pm
the people have lied for years
July 13th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
On yoville,if your child gets asked to do something anapropriate,tell em to block em.
July 14th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
You guys are a bit stupid. -.- Yoville is actually too blocked because of people like you. No more dizzy drinks and “yaddaing”. You say, “”I’m not going to let my child be exposed to that!” Here’s a hint, chances are they already are. If they’re stupid enough to give away personal information, then you raised an idiot. And Yoville is safe.. And you need to be 13, they say it on their game cards that you get when you buy yocash. They can’t help it if kids lie. And they don’t ask you for your age because it’s Facebook’s job. Or Mysoace’s depending on where you play. And like said, your daughter might have stretched the truth a bit to make you seem proud of her. If you don’t like the sick-o’s, stay away. Yoville shouldn’t be reported, they didn’t do “yadda”.
August 27th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
ok (lame)
September 8th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Hi,im Bea These my friends in yoville was good
i like there manners wich is good 
September 13th, 2010 at 8:22 am
tey shoul make a yoille just for kids that may help alot of things,but then you all can see how smart these kids are
October 24th, 2010 at 10:03 am
let the kids use it just teach them what to prevent tell them what not to do and make sure they dont`t use it a lot or they could get an adicction
April 24th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
i know someone that was 17 and was tracked down by a 40 year old man. She was raped and killed
DONT PLAY YOVILLE
January 19th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
i think its good cause stay in your apt and dont go outside use map dont follow people give u vires