Free, But Watch For A Catch
Friday, October 17th, 2008There are some online sites that seem appropriate for kids, but upon further inspection let them, and their parents, down. I am referring to free sites that host Flash and Java games. The issue is that you can’t always tell right away if a site is appropriate for your child because of the rotating banner ads.
Say you search for free games. Many sites will come up. You select a site that looks ok because the games appear to be kid friendly. Great, now you feel comfortable and your child is having a little fun. But, suddenly a banner ad pops up with an adult-rated advertisement! Then you think to yourself, “How could I have let this happen! I checked to make sure it was safe!”
Because these sites are free, they are ad supported. People of all ages like to play games online. Banner ads will rotate to offer a variety of products for different target audiences. They are also not invulnerable to malicious hackers. That is what makes it very difficult to conclude right off if your child should be playing a game on a particular site. It was reported on Washingtonpost.com that the popular Neopets site had this problem, apparently the result of malicious software. They have since corrected the issue.
It is always best that you first check out free game sites. Make sure you feel comfortable with the games and the ads that show up. Keep in mind there are many fun, kid-friendly sites. You will find one that you and your child can feel good about.
