How safe is VMK?

[tinkamom]

My DD loves VMK! I sat with her when she first started playing and I felt it was safe and she didn't need constant supervision there. Now I'm not so sure. How safe do you think VMK is?

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

I still feel VMK is very safe for DD10 but I still dont leave her alone on the pc for more than about 10 mins at a time and she knows that if people are saying "strange or mean " words that she is supposed to come get me. I usually turn off her trades too just to be on the safe side. While i do NOT like the increasing usuage of taken and fake cuss words, I still feel safe with the fact it is very difficult to ask for or give personal information out. With al that being said i think VMK (with the right supervision) is still safe enough for preteen kids, but like everything about parent, it is a child by child decision that only you can make

 

[tinkamom]

My DD is a new teen and while I don't sit at the computer with her I'm close by just to keep an eye out. I'm hoping shes much safer at VMK than some other places!

 

[Maleficent2]

I still feel VMK is very safe for DD10 but I still dont leave her alone on the pc for more than about 10 mins at a time and she knows that if people are saying "strange or mean " words that she is supposed to come get me. I usually turn off her trades too just to be on the safe side. While i do NOT like the increasing usuage of taken and fake cuss words, I still feel safe with the fact it is very difficult to ask for or give personal information out. With al that being said i think VMK (with the right supervision) is still safe enough for preteen kids, but like everything about parent, it is a child by child decision that only you can make

very well said Grumps....VMK is as safe as Disney can make it. As in Life (school, sports activity etc) there will always be some adults and children who are rude and inconsiderate of others.

That said VMK is an inactive live online community and safety measures should be discussed with every child about what is safe and not safe to do.


Here is a good thread that might help you.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=960565

 

[tinkamom]

Thank you for the link.

 

[DaraAllen]

My DD9 plays, but under strict supervision. Her trades are turned off, she has "don't do taken or bay be" in her signature, and if ppl are mean or say odd things, she has instructions to find me in game asap. I play, so that part is easy. If for some reason she is on and I am not (very rare - lol) she comes get me and I assess the situation. Usually it's someone wanting her princess mickey hat, and when she says she cannot trade them, sometimes ppl get mean.

My biggest instruction to her is that if something or someone is making her uncomfortable, get out of the room immediately. She knows how to use the advanced feature, so she can go into a different instance of the same room and do what she intended to do.

 

[Tiinkerbelle]

I think VMK has somewhat fallen in the slopes. More of these "taken" people keep arriving, more rude people as well. They will say the meanest things in games, and jsut to scam you. I don't approve of the "bay be, mummy" thing on the game either, which seems to be everywhere you turn. I wouldn't leave my child alone on the game for more then minutes until she/or he was 13 years old. Just because I'm protective.

 

[Alionette]

I'm only 12, I've been playing for a year and 2 months, I don't have parental supervision, I trade all the time. My suggestions is teach them the basics, and stuff that will keep them safe. Pretty much teach them it's ok to use ignore, report, change instances, turning off trades, and so on. It took me about 3-4 months to learn about how not to get scammed, to stay safe and such, but if you let them get on dis that would probably help. I personally feel a lot safer here on dis, since everyone has advice, and it's easy to get to someone who can help, unlike in vmk when you have to go through a lot of annoying steps to contact a staff. You don't have to take my suggestions if you don't feel safe with them, but just throwing some stuff out there and ideas I have come up with.

Lion

 

[Dashzap]

I'm only 12, I've been playing for a year and 2 months, I don't have parental supervision, I trade all the time. My suggestions is teach them the basics, and stuff that will keep them safe.
Lion

Stuff like not giving out your age on a public message board...

 

[CapEldano2]

Stuff like not giving out your age on a public message board...

Rofl good point..

I think when you look at the rest of the online games out there, VMK is most certainly the safest. Yes there are "mummy, taken" what have you, but those things don't really limit the safety of VMK. When I think of safety, I think of giving out personal info kind of safety. As far as trades go, if your child gets scammed, it isn't a huge deal. Is it immoral? Extremely. Is VMK real life? No. If you are worried about the "Taken, Mummy, etc." I would suggest explaining to your child that the people who do these things will get in trouble (even if they always don't) that way, it will keep your child out of trouble on VMK, and it can also maybe help your child understand that doing that kind of thing is not appropriate. Overall, I think VMK is very safe, but the final descision is totally up to you on whether you let your child play or not Hope that helps