New Barbie Expands Online World for Girls

Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:20PM EDT

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Barbie takes on yet another new shape as she hits toy stores this week: MP3 player, with a USB key beneath her feet.

It's a key that expands yet another online world for girls. The $60 doll-shaped MP3 players holds up to 120 MP3 or 240 WMA-file songs. When inserted into a computer via docking station, the Barbie opens up places on BarbieGirls.com where girls can interact, shop, and decorate rooms.

Girls can—and have been—creating their own virtual characters on BarbieGirls.com without the MP3 players. They can select the hair, skin, and eye color and "mouth combinations" they choose to create unique avatars, or online characters. Parental permission via email is required for girls to play and interact on BarbieGirls.com.

Chat on the site is monitored and protected. Try typing the word "mom" or numbers, and they won't appear to the recipient in case the girl is trying to find out or give out personal information. There are two levels of chat. "B Chat" takes place in public spaces and in a girl's "room" but is limited to pre-selected phrases in a drop-down menu. "Secret B Chat" occurs in a girl's room but only between girls who have physically connected their Barbie MP3s into one another's docking station. They can choose what words to type but if inappropriate phrases or combinations on Barbie's not-approved lists appear, they do not make it to the recipient.

Of course, there are accessory plates (outfits) to buy, but the original MP3 player comes with a second plate/outfit, ear buds, a belt clip to take the MP3 player away from the computer, and a docking station to plug it into the computer.

Again, my 10-year-old is not a good gauge on whether BarbieGirls.com is a fun place to hang out. A Webkinz devotee, she loves animals but despises everything pink and has never owned a Barbie. So...I'd love to know what girls and their parents think about this real-world/online Barbie connection.

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Where the Young Kids Are Online 

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  • 1 Posted by gaffneydd6466 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    Am I imagining things or does the new Barbie look alot like a watered down version of the Bratz dolls???????????

  • 2 Posted by michblessed on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    HI THIS BARBIE WORLD THING IS WAY FASHIONET AND COOL MY NAME IS AIYESHA EDWARDS.I LOVE FASHION AND DESIGN I SOMETIMES DO COSMETICS AT HOME WITH MOM .... I WISH THAT I COULD BE APART OF THE BARBIE WORLD SOMEDAY.

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