A strange new online community for tween Barbie fans just launched -- it's called BarbieGirls, and it's all about becoming a Barbie doll, hanging out with your Barbie friends, and going to the mall. Plus it's still in Beta so the pastel-toned site feels very hip and Web 2.0. Signing up gets you an avatar who can choose from "fashions" like poofy skirts, teeny jeans, long blond hair, and sparkly shoes (sorry tomboys -- no chunky shoes and argyle sweater vests). Also, Ken is not allowed. In addition, you get to create a room that's "the ultimate hangout space" and go shopping with your online Barbie friends.
There are two big selling points here. One, the site is supposed to appeal to the elusive girl demographic online. And second, the site advertises itself as "safe" and predator-free, which is achieved by allowing techs to spy on the girls' private conversations. According to the "for parents" part of the site:
This feels a little creepy, since girls are told they can engage in "private" chat with "best friends only" in their rooms, and yet somebody is probably reading and editing what they're saying. I want to get more girls online as much as the next female geek, but there has to be a more privacy-respecting way to do it.
BarbieGirls [official site]
