Legal Niches

Nickelodeon Targeted for Links to ?Inappropriate? Games

By pete_gallagher

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) is taking children's TV network Nickelodeon to task for linking to 'naughty' online games from its Nick.com and NickJR.com websites.

CCFC claims Nickelodeon is promoting 'sexualized and violent video games to children as young as preschoolers' by cross-linking to its sister-website, AddictingGames.com.

Among the titles to raise CCFC's ire are Naughty Classroom (Hot for teacher?...Here's your chance to fulfill your ultimate childhood fantasy), Foxy Sniper (Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Fear me, because I am a crack shot!) and Dark Cut 2 (More macho surgery! No anesthetic. No antiseptics. Just rusty knives, corn whiskey, and lots of blood!).

Nick had apparently pulled some games from the site after it received complaints toward the end of last year, but this was not enough to appease CCFC, who said that, 'Nickelodeon was clearly more concerned about protecting its reputation than protecting children.'

AddictingGames.com does have a rudimentary warning system in place for games that 'may be a little 'edgy.' Such titles are flagged on the site with a picture of a small bomb. A short Parent's Guide to the site is offered as well.

Concerned parents are urged to take action on the CCFC website, where they can submit a form letter to Steve Youngwood, Executive Vice President, Digital, Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group.

Full post as published by GamePolitics.com on January 11, 2010 (boomark / email).