The New York Times recently covered a story on the explosion of online virtual worlds for kids and tweens. In the article, Brad Stone explains these Web sites as "Facebook or MySpace with training wheels." Stone sees no problems arising from children spending too much time in virtual worlds and not enough in the real world, he does; however, detect a problem in the broader social cost of exposing children to marketing messages.
A traffic measurement firm found that visits to a group of seven virtual-world sites aimed at children and teenagers exploded to 68 percent in the last year. This research also suggests that virtual-world sites have attracted 20 million users, showing a drastic increase among younger people.
Some marketing models include paying subscriptions for doll clothes and product placement. One site, WeeWorld, recently signed a deal that allows online characters to carry bags of Skittles candy.
The question is yet another of morality. Is it right to target these young groups so specifically? I wonder what it would have been like if my Barbie came in a box with a mini-bag of Skittles. In a time when Americans practically come out of the womb with a keyboard and mouse, I wonder: Where do we draw the line?
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