This is my open rant about Sunstorm Interactive.
This morning my six year old daughter asked me for help on a game on her iPod. The game? My School Dance. I must have approved this app as I am the one with the password. As a mother, I am ashamed that I considered this app harmless. Fun. Entertaining. I am disappointed in myself that I simply approved it without further thought.
She was having problems getting to the dance. Together we took a look. I clicked on the little building that said DANCE. Within seconds my daughter was given a message that goes against everything we raise her to be, everything we fight against, everything she already is. With one message this app has stripped young girls of their self worth, their pride, their independence, and inner beauty. What message could do such damage?
I read it out loud. Stunned. I read it in my head ten more times. Disgusting. I called for my husband. I made him read it. I was shocked. I deleted this piece of crap FREE app. I explained to my daughter that this isn't an appropriate game and we can find a better game. But my anger grew.
How dare they? Who thought this was ok? Yes, It's just a game. But this app is geared for children 4 and above. Wait, did you get that? Four and older. It is reaching these kids with this message before they ever step in a school. There are so many things wrong with this I don't know where to begin.
Let's start here, You need a boyfriend to go to the dance hall. To my daughter, my nieces, your daughters, cousins, and so on - You do NOT need a boyfriend to take you to the dance. This is garbage. Not real. You can go to any dance alone. With your friends. In a group. With your brother. With your girlfriend. (Yes, I totally mean this. With your lesbian girlfriend and I will proudly post the picture on FB!) And guess what else? You don't have to go to the stupid dance!
Second- Try flirting in class. What?? I mean, WHAT?? I have no idea (at this point) what this has to do with this game, but oh my. Girls, please- go to school to learn. Get an education and it will be your ticket to anywhere. I promise you.
Last - Buy(ing) Better Clothes - This is the part that made my physically ill. Who would find it fun to tell young girls that they are only worth what they wear in clothes? Who, seriously, who wrote this? If it was a woman, shame on you. You are no longer in my sisterhood. Women in my sisterhood empower one another. And if it was a man....do you not have a mother? A wife? A daughter? Buy pretty clothes so you can get the boy so you can go to the dance. Please tell me what about this is fun and entertaining?
I did the only thing I could think of to handle this situation. I put it on FB.
But I wanted to do more. Write a negative review? Write a letter? I needed to play the game. I spent 10 minutes on this game and what I found was vile. To me, this is as scary and damaging as the other things that threaten our children online. This is tearing down our young girls, teaching them they aren't valued, that there is no inner beauty, they are defined by the person they are with.
I began the game. Created my character. Her name is simply MOM. I got her dressed.
One of the first things I clicked on was a notebook. This is what came up.
Immediately promoting that a young lady feels bad about herself. Awesome.
You have to buy clothes to get popularity points. So you work, to earn money, to buy clothes. Go to your job at the cafe ladies!
If you don't make enough money making lattes, never fear children. There's always the in-app purchase to boost you along. And since you're only 4....
Ok. Simple enough. So, what are the popularity points for? Oh yeah. To get your boyfriend. I clicked on one boy, and got this message....
So the boys have popularity points as well. And I didn't get too deep into the game, but it seems yours has to match his. Then he becomes your boyfriend. And then you can go to the dance. Brace yourself for the boyfriend rating....
Speechless. Absolutely speechless.
I learned a very real lesson today. My children are being victimized. And I approved it. I have to be more diligent. I simply assumed this game was innocent. But it's pure crap. And it can cause real damage.
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