StarDoll is a virtual world for girls from age 7 to 17. The concept is based on the paper doll – dolls with interchangeable clothing and hair made out of paper. Stardoll began in 2004 as Paperdoll Heaven. The concept became so popular that the site received funding from investors and was re-launched in 2006 as Stardoll. The website exists in many different languages. The game is website-based – there is no need to download any files. The only major requirement is that users have Adobe Flash Player.
Stardoll is free to join – there are no monthly or annual membership fees for a basic membership. Most of the games on Stardoll are free to play; however, there are some games that require payment. This payment is completed by users with Stardollars – the official virtual world currency. This currency pays for select games, doll accessories and home furnishings. Starcoins can be earned by completing select games. All members get free Stardollars when they join Stardoll. However, to get Stardollars, members must pay for them.
Features
Everyone who joins Stardoll gets their own virtual doll to dress up; a room to decorate; a personal homepage; and 1000 Starcoins. Each member’s avatar can be customized with accessories and a unique look. There is also a section involving celebrity dolls where members can dress them up using their own unique wardrobe. Though the majority of the website is free to access, Stardoll offers an exclusive membership known as Superstar which allows members first access to Starplaza, the virtual shopping store; a larger virtual home; exclusive makeup; their own clothing line; and 200 Stardollars a month. 6 months of Superstar is $41.70; and an annual membership is $71.40.
There are some flash games to play. These games earn players Starcoins which they use to buy room furnishings, personal accessories, clothing, makeup and other commercial items. Chat is another popular feature on Stardoll. A ‘Kid Safe’ membership restricts members less than 13 years of age from writing any content on the website, accessing content or communicating with other members. An open chat allows teenagers to chat with other teens, though filters are supposed to stop inappropriate language.
What’s Good
The most positive aspect of Stardoll is the ability for members to be creative with their designs for their virtual doll and their room. Stardoll will appeal mainly to girls in a wide age bracket who are interested in fashion and social chatting. The graphics are clean and clear, and in some cases almost life-like. There is no violence, drinking, drugs or smoking on the website or in the flash games. Stardoll has made a wise move to not allow children less than 13 have access to chat features.
What’s Bad
Giving members the freedom to dress up their virtual doll in whatever clothing they desire leads to risqué, sexualized designs. Being provocative and sexy does nothing for a girl’s self esteem – if that is what Stardoll is concerned about. Young girls need real role models – not clichéd examples of physically perfect young women. This website can be a lot of fun – if it is not taken seriously. Stardoll only empowers girls to become nothing more than vacuous shopaholics.
Stardoll drips consumerism. The banner ads all over this website are troubling. Stardoll promotes shopping, more shopping and still more shopping. Certainly there is more to a girl than dressing up a doll and going shopping – but if there is, you won’t find anything more than that on Stardoll. Although users less than 13 can’t access open chat or the message boards, perhaps Stardoll should look into eliminating the boards – which are filled with adult-styled content. It’s great that members can chat to one another, but if it’s not regulated with force, it brings down the credibility of the entire website.
Online Safety
The safety of children appears in two very different ways at Stardoll. Children less than 13 are protected from the often inappropriate language, innuendo and adult situations that are posted by other members in chat and message boards. Even though Stardoll claims that they have strict guidelines for appropriate behavior, those who break the rules still get by the censors. This is not a good way to provide online safety for children. Stardoll has no control over who joins their website; however, they do have control over what members say. In this regard, Stardoll is not doing a good job and needs to be more vigilant.
The Summary
Target Demography:
Sexualized avatars are inappropriate for young girls and creating shopaholics at any age is wrong.
Graphics: B
Visually sound but static and occasionally boring.
Educational Value: F
Blatant consumerism and spending beyond your means is not educational.
Entertainment Value: C
The variety of dress-up activities is the only positive on an otherwise limited website.
Price:
A premium Superstar membership is $41.70 for 6 months; $71.40 for a year; otherwise, membership is free.
Visit Stardoll at www.Stardoll.com.
The above Stardoll review was written by a responsible parent and media professional who believes that child safety on the internet must be observed as a top priority. Contact us if you would like your virtual world reviewed too.
i love stardoll! but, some people post some bad things.for example, ive heard of this tthing called the swear code.it lets you curse if you type it in the middle of the word, and it goes through.and, some people have something called a troll account.its a fake account to mess with people and be disgusting and stuff.
add me! im jessie-love2379!
I have stardoll i love it look at me my username khacat7
I love stardoll so much! Thanks to this site I can barely get off it.
Totally!
stardoll is an awesome sight of games,fashion and friends I believe that this is more for girls then guys! and if you are 5+ you get to decorate your stardoll. I love plying harvest and if you enter your email and respond you can get up to 5 stardollers a day they are very nice to have and if your a member you get free coins every month! But remember those earned ones ave to be spent today!