Just a post to clear up a few misconceptions and a few comments linking this post to IMVU...

" They have even gone as far as moving AO Content areas to adjacent real life servers! "
IMVU was told prior to the Great Castration ( Actually I think right about the time of the Great Castration... ) by myself and others that they should divide Teenagers and Adults to their own servers if they couldn't guarantee safety for all. Clifford aka Devinoch stated outright that this wouldn't be done. Later we all found out that IMVU simply felt this wasn't a cost effective solution.

It should be noted that Adult Only content still exists in Second Life on Mainland areas - as long as its not openly displayed. Someone may have adult content on their non-commercial personal land, i.e. their home.

Thankfully though, teenagers *aren't* allowed into Second Life, though Linden Lab allows Teenagers and Adults to co-exist on the Forums.

" Age play is also banned in SL. "
Actually, Ageplay isn't banned at all. An adult may have a child based avatar as long as they do not engage in anything sexual whatsoever. Linden Lab requires anyone violating this policy to be reported immediately. You may still pretend to be a child on Second Life and run around on playgrounds, etc. The best term here is " No sexual Ageplay is allowed. "

" Child avatars are not allowed enter AO content areas. "
Yes, they actually are allowed to enter AO areas as long as they're verified adults. I don't agree with Linden Lab on this, but some do - some don't. Children avatars are allowed in adult areas as long as they are not around anything sexual, or involved with anything sexual. For instance, a " child " in-world may visit bars, clubs ( even ones with adult themes for some reason ).

" They will be booted immediately by owners and staff of such places. "
At the discretion of the landowner - business management. It's not required unless there is a violation of policy, or if the owner/manager simply doesn't want them there.

"I'm not even sure you can give things to other avatars in there. "
You may give things to others on IMVU by " gifting " the item.

"Another thing that's good to know, is that there seems to be lots of vampires in SL. "Blood Lines" is very popular. "
Blood Lines is also actively abused with " bites " being issued as harassment. Of course, not all do this so I'll avoid making the blanket statement there.

Second Life, hands down is better than IMVU in my opinion as well. It's not paradise however and everything should be taken as a grain of salt - and that goes for " Teen Life " as well. As always, do your homework first. This obviously applies to IMVU as well.

Yes, you're right LordSoulFire, my ex-partner's issues were present way before I met him. The fact that he hasn't had a romantic or sexual relationship with anyone for over 15 years should have been a red flag. I suppose joining IMVU made me realise just how much of a social isolate he is and how severe his issues are......a shame because he is quite an articulate, humorous, intelligent and good-looking person. The more I came to realise how addicted to living his life in a virtual world he was the more sad and depressing it became for me to the point where I didn't want anything more to do with him or IMVU. The day I decided to bid him farewell and remove myself from IMVU was the day I began to feel 100% better. It was a massive relief to be off that site, believe me! However, the IMVU experience traumatised me to the point where I began researching the effects of the game on-line hence finding this site and deciding to contribute to it. I know the main issue being discussed here is child safety on IMVU and, whilst I am firmly of the opinion that IMVU or any of the other virtual worlds are no places for under 18s, I am also of the belief that IMVU has very harmful effects on adults especially on how they function and relate to others in real life. I know of many married/attached people on that site and Yoville who are conducting clandestine affairs on-line thus neglecting their moral beliefs, family obligations, work and domestic responsibilities and real social lives in the process. I wholeheartedly empathise with spouses who have contributed posts on here claiming that IMVU has robbed them of their partners. Whilst I was not married to my ex-partner, I did feel that I lost him to IMVU.......and he is still lost there undoubtedly wasting copious amounts of time and, therefore, his life away in a virtual world. I find that disturbingly unhealthy. Like you said, there is no middle ground on IMVU. It's a business which targets the vulnerable and impressionable in our society. I wish it was banned!

My experience with virtual worlds began approximately one year ago when I began playing Yoville via Facebook. Even though the avatars on that game are cute cartoons, I found many of the people behind them rude and aggressive and I was also propositioned and harassed sexually there on a regular basis. I was also concerned about the copious amounts of very young children playing Yoville and what they were being exposed to in the way of vulgar language, bullying and sexual harassment. However, I did meet some very nice people on that site including a man from the US (I'm Australian) with whom I developed a close connection. After hitting it off on Yoville we heard about IMVU and joined together so we could develop our relationship further and so we could voice chat. Had I done my research before joining I never would have gone anywhere near IMVU. I found the whole IMVU experience rather disturbing for the following reasons:
1. The sexually explicit content and sexually charged atmosphere. I could not believe what was for sale in the IMVU shop! Just key in any private part name in the shop search bar and you'll see what I mean.
2. Being exposed to inappropriate/suggestive comments and irritating noises in chat rooms. A lack of intelligent and thought-provoking conversation in chat rooms was also an issue.
3. Being sexually propositioned, harassed and emoted without my permission on a regular basis. Most private chats I had with males went very quickly down the cyber sex path. As soon as I made it clear I just wanted to chat most of them immediately lost interest in me as a person.
4. Both my partner and me being requested for chats by teenagers even though both of us are in our 40s. We were warned that most of these teens wanted gifts/credits in exchange for cyber sex so we declined their chat requests. Both my partner and I were concerened about the amount of under 18s using the site and what they were undoubtedly being exposed to.
5. Being told by long-time IMVU users that the site is a HUGE meat market and is mostly all about cyber sex. One guy told me that, in his opinion, 95% of the activity on IMVU is cyber sex.
6. Having others, mainly women, interferring in my partner's and my relationship. I could not believe the amount of women chasing my partner by openly flirting with him, propositioning him and sending him gifts despite knowing about me.
7. My partner being offered cyber sex or sex chat via messages sent to his web page.
8. Regularly receiving messages from scammers via my web page.
I could go on but the above issues were the main ones that bothered me. Of course, all of this became too much for me to the point where I no longer felt comfortable being on IMVU let alone conducting a relationship on there. I could not trust anything about the place. As a result, the relationship with my partner crumbled and I eventually left the site after having been a member for only three months. During that time my partner became totally addicted to IMVU and would spend all of his leisure time chatting to strangers on there. His life basically consists of working, eating, sleeping and playing IMVU. He has no friends and does not socialise in real life because his entire social network is on IMVU. He neglects his health, domestic responsibilities and family relationships in favour of playing IMVU anywhere from 6 - 10 hours a day. He lives with his 22 year-old son who he does not communicate effectively with because they both spend their free time on-line in their respective bedrooms......and he wonders why his son is so lazy and lacks motivation! Very sad indeed!! This was another aspect of the game that disturbed me; the amount of people on IMVU preferring to live their lives in a virtual world instead of the real world. This is a danger for adults and children alike and, if it's not arrested, then we will have hordes of socially inept people unable to cope with real life relationships in the real world. Basically, I think IMVU is a socially irresponsible game and, as such, is a dangerous place for anyone. I really dislike everything it stands for and would never contemplate playing the game again. As for my ex-partner he is probably still madly playing IMVU. I chose to sever contact with him leaving him to his unhealthy behaviours. Yes, I understand he is an adult and is entitled to live life his way. My only question is.....is his life an authentic one? While he is conducting it entirely in cyber space, I think not!

Mengqi, you need to remove your spam Post as it adds nothing to this thread. Please follow the topic before hitting reply.

I have been a member of IMVU for about two years, nearly.
I feel like I've been there for a lifetime.

I am nearing 22, and I hope to be a very mature person.
But, I do talk about very mature things.
A lot of my friends on IMVU, including my boyfriend, 21 and under.
Which, at most times, I consider them to be teenagers.
But these are mature teenagers, not little children which 'say' they are 13-15.

I've actually had parents emailing me, saying I'm a bad influence on their teenager because I am an open gay. People call me the Gay God in the forums, specifically the GASR (Graphic Arts Services and Request Form).
I'm surpised somebody hasn't reported my name (Homosexuell, Homosexual in German) insane that there are so many parents who actually let their irresponsible kid on this website and haven't reported me.

There are people like me, and people 'worse' than me on IMVU.
I'm not a cyber bully, I don't 'cyber sex' with kids.
But, that is just me. So, make sure your teenager has the right sense before they come to the IMVU community.
The IMVU staff and forum moderators (no matter how nice and useful they are, I am close friends with a few of them) are not going to be your safegaurd. They can't help every little kid.

Have some sense.
Monitor your kids if you don't think they can make their own decisions.

All my opinion.

Jakey

the whole point it, is imvu safe for children.| And \I'm sorry to say, it's a resounding no! it doesn't matter if they screw people over, it doesn't matter if they have the wrong way of seeing things. what matters is, imvu is not safe for kids. |They allow items to be passed by peer review instead of reviewing their own catalog. they say they aren't a dating site, but that they are geared to teenagers. what parent in their right mind is going to let a teenager join a dating site like zoosk, which imvu not only endorses, but advertises to all customers|?
\ i would not let my child on imvu without supervision, and there are few if any public rooms i would allow them in, simply because the rooms are not monitored for chat at all. and many many many public rooms are ap content not suitable for kids. especially younger kids who can be drawn into something unsavory without even knowing it.

I would just like to say that I agree with LordSoulFire every whit. I have been on IMVU since 2007 as well, but I never fought any of the battles he has refered to since I was either 12 or 13 when I joined. Even though I do get on sometimes to try and find a quality conversation when I'm bored, I am most often dissapointed. Also, if you decide to get on do not spend any money on it as it will be an eventual waste. Ever since IMVU has released options for free credits that is what I have relied on.

One more warning: even though IMVU does have power (even though they don't excercise it) to moniter content for your avatar, they cannot or will not moniter the conversation; therefore if you are not careful you might meet some horny sicko

These games are a big problem. They aren't regulated as they should be. My son is 19 but he functions as an 8 year old so his doctor said to make him a teen account so he would not be exposed to all the adult stuff he knows nothing about. Well he told me today they are letting him in the adult areas. So the mods really aren't doing the job they need to do.

I had to email the address on the terms and conditions It is sad that a parent can't get though unless they make an account. I don't want that crap on my pc or near it.

He goes mental when he plays. He thinks the game is real life and he has all kinds of outbursts and becomes violent as well.

He cannot read write or spell but they are allowing him into adult areas when his birth date states age 16. That is wrong in all levels.

Second life was even worse. These games really need to be regulated and watched.