Warning to Parents Who Use Moshi Monsters

suki1001

That should read, Parents whose children use Moshi Monsters.

I actually can't go into much detail, because the are police involved.

Before I get comments of "You thought it was safe". I have to admit I did, because it is a children's site. It isn't my children that have been affected, but friends children.

Moshi Monsters is about as safe as Facebook. I wasn't aware. They can be contacted by anyone.

I just thought I'd let you know. I can divulge information after it has gone to court, but at the moment I wouldn't want to jeopardise anything. I do however want to let any parents whose children use it know.

balletshoes

yep, its the same as all these types of online games, moshi monsters, club penguin, etc etc.

my DD has been continually told, no chatting or interacting in any way with anyone on those games who she doesn't personally know, and she only gets to use the computer/laptop in my presence.

Janepig

Of course they can be contacted by anyone. That's kind of the point. In fact, I think it's been a good lesson, particularly for DD who is 8, because trying to explain to her the dangers of the internet is one thing, but when she gets friend requests from people she doesn't know, she's understood better when I've said to her that just because it says it's from a girl called Lulu who is 10, it doesn't mean it's from Lulu who is 10. It could be a big hairy forty-something fella at the keyboard pretending to be Lulu. It's been (imo) a much better way of demonstrating to her that she should only accept friends from school who have told her that they will request her, besides which I check her account all the time. DS also has an account but a) I always log in for him and check it, and b) he's only interested in the mini-games on there. Neither of them use the forum/chat facility. I don't think they'd know how.

Jx

Absinthe_2

Luckily mine only had a three month subscription (her daddy bought her) which has nearly expired. I've told her not to chat to anyone though, but kids can easily do so without thinking. I supervise her as much as I can, but luckily she prefers my browsers (Chrome), or desktops games. We decide together what activity she can do.

Thanks for the warning, as my child's safety is always a concern.

suki1001

Janepig wrote: »

Of course they can be contacted by anyone. That's kind of the point. In fact, I think it's been a good lesson, particularly for DD who is 8, because trying to explain to her the dangers of the internet is one thing, but when she gets friend requests from people she doesn't know, she's understood better when I've said to her that just because it says it's from a girl called Lulu who is 10, it doesn't mean it's from Lulu who is 10. It could be a big hairy forty-something fella at the keyboard pretending to be Lulu. It's been (imo) a much better way of demonstrating to her that she should only accept friends from school who have told her that they will request her, besides which I check her account all the time. DS also has an account but a) I always log in for him and check it, and b) he's only interested in the mini-games on there. Neither of them use the forum/chat facility. I don't think they'd know how.

Jx

I didn't actually realise they could be contacted by anyone. Like I said I'll go into details when I can, but I don't think all parents realise this, although like me, they have warned children of these situations, I didn't think it was as unsafe as FB.

Janepig

suki1001 wrote: »

I didn't actually realise they could be contacted by anyone. Like I said I'll go into details when I can, but I don't think all parents realise this, although like me, they have warned children of these situations, I didn't think it was as unsafe as FB.

I don't know how old your child is, but DD has had a visit in school from the Police (more than once I think) to lecture them on the dangers of the internet, with particular reference to sites like MM, Club Penguin, FB, etc..... I thought it was fairly obvious, but in fairness, what's obvious to me might not be obvious to everyone so it's good to share experiences - if only one person who didn't realise the danger reads your post and now understands then that can only be a good thing.

Jx

gingin_2

suki1001 wrote: »

I didn't actually realise they could be contacted by anyone. Like I said I'll go into details when I can, but I don't think all parents realise this, although like me, they have warned children of these situations, I didn't think it was as unsafe as FB.

I know it's going to sound harsh but surely you should have checked it out before you allowed her on? Moshi Monsters is not a complicated site, there are only a small number of pages to navigate through if you did want to check it out before you let her on and it's pretty obvious from the off that they can befriend and send messages to anyone and I've although never been, nor allowed dd on the forum, but I believe that's even worse.

It's really good of you to highlight it though and I am sorry you are going through this.

suki1001

Janepig wrote: »

I don't know how old your child is, but DD has had a visit in school from the Police (more than once I think) to lecture them on the dangers of the internet, with particular reference to sites like MM, Club Penguin, FB, etc..... I thought it was fairly obvious, but in fairness, what's obvious to me might not be obvious to everyone so it's good to share experiences - if only one person who didn't realise the danger reads your post and now understands then that can only be a good thing.

Jx

The reason why it didn't go so far, was because the children had been told by the school, mother, otherwise it would have been a whole lot worse.

I think what has surprised me and other parents I've spoken to is exactly how unsafe it is.

And yes, that was the whole point of the thread really, just in case other parents weren't aware and to be extra vigilant on sites like MM. And to make sure their children are fully aware of what to do.

suki1001

gingin wrote: »

I know it's going to sound harsh but surely you should have checked it out before you allowed her on? Moshi Monsters is not a complicated site, there are only a small number of pages to navigate through if you did want to check it out before you let her on and it's pretty obvious from the off that they can befriend and send messages to anyone and I've although never been, nor allowed dd on the forum, but I believe that's even worse.

It's really good of you to highlight it though and I am sorry you are going through this.

It's not me who is going through it - it is another parent. I didn't think it was obvious. The whole point of this thread is not for the whole told you so bit - mine never befriended people they didn't know. This was caught early, because the child was aware. As it is a site designed for children, I am sure there are many parents out there who do not realise, so I would rather warn them, than not, so this is why I started the thread.

gingin_2

suki1001 wrote: »

It's not me who is going through it - it is another parent. I didn't think it was obvious. The whole point of this thread is not for the whole told you so bit - mine never befriended people they didn't know. This was caught early, because the child was aware. As it is a site designed for children, I am sure there are many parents out there who do not realise, so I would rather warn them, than not, so this is why I started the thread.

Ok, I apologise, I didn't read that properly. And like I said it's good of you to highlight it.

suki1001

gingin wrote: »

Ok, I apologise, I didn't read that properly. And like I said it's good of you to highlight it.

It's ok - I understand most people on here are probably savvy enough to know, but there might be some who aren't and as someone else said, if just one person becomes wise from it, that will be good.

When I can say what's happened, I'll let everyone know.