A new smart phone game for children that teaches girls to “dress sexy” and “go on dates with hot guys” is causing outrage for promoting the wrong values to girls.
The Daily Mail is reporting on the app that invites children to step “into the high heels of an aspiring celebrity who is setting out to build her career as a superstar while having a ton of fun along the way.”
Players are given three main career options – singer, actress, or model – and are told to dress their “avatar” in sexy lingerie and visit nightclubs where they flirt with “hot guys”.
Sadly, the game is a hit among young girls with its Facebook page boasting over 1.3 million likes. Originally marketed to children age 4+, it was recently updated to a rating of 12+, but critics say that’s not good enough.
“The sexygame teaches girls that the way to succeed in life is to be sexually appealing to men,” said, Melinda Liszweski from Collective Shout, a movement against the objectification of women and sexualisation of girls, to the Mail.
“Having had a rating of 4+ this app will likely have slipped under the radar of many parents who have taken steps to make sure their children aren’t exposed to inappropriate content.”
Apparently, some reviewers on Amazon agree wholeheartedly.
“This is NOT for little girls,” one person wrote. “Characters with boobs hanging out, putting trances on boyfriends, buying diamonds…. REALLY? Not healthy for kids.”
Another child wrote: “I do not have this, but my 9 year old little sister does. The clothes are revealing and the avatars have very unrealistic shapes. This game teaches her terrible morals and values. Once I even heard her say, “I have all my gifts. I need a new boyfriend.” I don’t think you would like your daughter to say that. Star Girl is one of the trashiest games ever. I’m afraid one day she would wear those clothes and frequently change boyfriends.”
One mother, who called the app a Trashy Little App for Children, wrote: “While my kids really liked to play this app, I removed it after looking at how the girls are dressed. The app has a playboy bunnie feel to it and I felt it was totally inappropriate for children.”
Animoca, the company behind Star Girl, has thus far refused to comment on the criticism.
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