AIBU to let 8yr old go on Moshi Monsters?

[fastedwina]

More to get advice and opinions really. My nearly 9yr old has asked to join Moshi Monsters on the PC - some kind of child game/forum where he can play games and chat to his friends. I'm wary of anything to do with the internet - does anyone have any info/advice on this site?

[JamieAgain]

Mine play on it, but I don't let them do so when I'm not around. My 10 year old got some dodgy sexual messages from someone purporting too be an 11 year old girl (actually I think it probably was a child being silly). Luckily he told me about them, but not before he'd replied, thus egging him/her on. Actually, it was a really good opportunity for us to discuss internet safety again in a less hypothetical way. I'm glad he told me when he was uneasy about the messages.

Make sure you know his password and monster name and check his messages periodically.

[JamieAgain]

Just to add, mine have lost interest in the Chat bit now anyway

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

my 8 year old loves it, but she is only allowed 30mins on PC a day. She is only allowed to accept and chat to people we know. She chats to her friend a few towns over, her bf from school and er cousins only.
Lay the rules down and they should be ok. They can only chat to friends.

[MuthaHubbard]

my nearly 9 year old is on.....but she has rules - ie not allowed to add anyone as a friend that she doesn't know. she usually sends messages to her friends, feeds her monster, plays games and redecorates the house!

she only goes on when i'm there anyway and she's recently had a reminder at school about internet safety.

[fastedwina]

Thanks for the replies - so far we've managed to side step this kind of thing but her is really keen and using the ' my friends are all on it' ploy.

[barbie007]

My DS was really into Club Penguin, very similar to Moshi. Well, he got banned 'forever' for swearing. My little 9 year old angel swearing online...:(

[ChasingSquirrels]

my 8yo and 5yo use it

• 5yo doesn't have a lot of "internet safety" rules as he can't read,
  

• 8yo know what he is and isn't allowed to do and is bollocked when he oversteps the mark, he doesn't use it to chat to his friends though - when they were going through the Club Penguin craze he would call a friend on the phone and they would talk about where there were in the Penguin world

[JamieAgain]

fasted - I am really anti the whole FB thing but have come to the conclusion that it won't go away just because I want it to. Set the ground rules, monitor, sanctions for not following the rules.

[JamieAgain]

... I mean on Moshi, not FB

[inchhighprivateeye]

The thing is, his friends probably ARE all on it, it's huge amongst the under 10's. You might be better off letting him play it, but under strict guidelines so that he gets an introduction to online safety. You may be wary of the internet, but your child is growing up in a world where online communication is the norm, and it's one of the things we need to teach them about as parents.

[fastedwina]

Thanks folks - he'll be returning soon looking for my answer!

[Heifer]

My DD (7) plays on it. She has made loads of friends, but hasn't really received any messages from them, or sent them. She has to tell me when she does get a message so I can see it.

It's a fun game (which I have been known to play for DD sometimes during the week to keep her Moshi fed and do the daily puzzles to get more rox.(for for DD mine, not for my own enjoyment..

[Seona1973]

my 4 and 7 year olds are members but dont use it to chat - they just use it to do the games and to catch moshlings.

[londonartemis]

My 6 year old goes on Moshi MOnsters and has been on club penguin for a couple of years...I really wouldn't worry. He got banned from Club Penguin because his brother typed 'fart' in amessage one time...it was a ban for 24 hours I think - the longest 24 hours of his life, so he hasn't done it since!
I would let your DC go on, but sit beside them for the first few sessions. They are attracted by the fun of it, not the potential for deviousness!