Virtual worlds – online “places” where people use graphic characters known as avatars to represent themselves – can expose children and teenagers to inappropriate activity or violence. To help parents protect their children and understand these virtual places, the Federal Trade Commission has developed a new FTC Consumer Alert, Virtual Worlds and Kids: Mapping the Risks.
To learn more about the risks for kids in virtual worlds, go to
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt038.shtm.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.
(FYI kids’ virtual worlds)