IMVU is currently one of the most widely used of such virtual worlds. Not only does it host over one-hundred million registered users and six million unprecedented monthly visitors, but it boasts the largest virtual goods catalog worldwide. These virtual goods are created by content-creators numbering over one-hundred thousand.
Basic memberships are completely free, although non-paying members must spend time earning their "predits", which are the promotional version of "credits", IMVU based currency. Predits can be won or earned by playing games within the virtual world, as well as various other methods. Credits, on the other hand become available via prepaid card, gifts, or by paid membership. Paid members receive more credits than non-paid. Also, non-paid members have "Guest_" tacked on in front of their name (Guest_LadyHikaru). It is currently about twenty dollars for a paid membership, which will take the "Guest_" out from in front of the member's name (LadyHikaru).
Entering the Underworld: Unfortunately, there have been many concerns regarding the security of people - particularly children and teens - on IMVU, as well as other 3D messenger clients. It is for that reason that I would like to raise awareness regarding them. The good news is that IMVU does not allow children under the age of thirteen to join, however, there are those as young as eleven who have joined by lying about their ages. In IMVU, anyone with the appropriate amount of credits/predits can "buy" just about any virtual goods offered them. This does include some of the more racy outfits, which, in the real world, could only be found in adult stores. Luckily for those involved, IMVU only grants access to these items to members with an Access Pass, which costs about twenty dollars and cannot be bought with credits/predits.
The reality of IMVU is that people from countries worldwide can get on it. They can be anyone they please, or they can be themselves. Many of them use the 3D chat to proposition others sexually, or just cyber-sexually. It is believed this is one reason why IMVU has become so popular with many adults. With the Access Pass, one can even have a completely nude avatar, and can do "actions" with the avatar which are better left in the bedrooms of married couples. In less graphic scenarios, some of the members are too busy flaming others to truly get anything out of the experience, and others attempt selling things outside of IMVU, though this it is against the rules.
Personal Insights: I have been a member of IMVU for about three years now. I prefer to keep my own avatar as a virtual branch of my true self as well as masquerading as a 'good' vampire, and ocassionally an avenging angel character I created. I have been flamed and propositioned several times, none of which have ended dangerously. I also choose my avatar's clothing carefully, so as not to reveal too much. There are certain things that are available to me through the virtual catalog that I use only in the presence of my husband's avatar. I have found that there is both good and bad to be had from chatting. My favorite good thing is learning about other people and their cultures. The most dangerous thing is giving too much information.
As a young adult who began using the internet at the age of ten, and who has been chatting without parental supervision since I was about sixteen, there are some pointers I would give to parents and teens:
Parents:
- Start early with you kids. Talk to them about the dangers and the good to come with chatting. The dangers are that there are bad people. The good is that you meet a wider variety of people.
- Supervise your kids. Keep the Internet in your bedroom or a common area of the home. This way there is less chance that they will be able to do things you would not want.
- Keep the lines of communication open. Teach your kids that they can come to you with a question - no matter how embarassing - about the conversations they are in.
- Keep an open mind about their internet friends and be willing to talk about them and treat the idea of them as you would the idea of their classmate.
- Encourage your kids to have a social life outside of the internet as well as having their internet friends. Please understand that kids are often unkind to each other. Because of this, there are some who honestly do not have friends. From someone who was once such a child, please be understanding of that.
- Suggest reasons for your teen to chat aside from chatting itself. Perhaps s/he loves Spanish class. Maybe they can find someone who speaks it fluently and they can share that with the person.
- NEVER EVER EVER agree to meet anyone from the internet in person without telling family and/or friends, and take family or friends with you to meet the person for the first time or two.
- Keep the lines of communication with your parents open, if possible. Talk about your online friends. Talk about how you feel about them. If your parents do not or will not listen, talk to friends and other family members who do. If you do not have that, I would even consider talking to a school counselor if you are willing. The point is, have someone who cares about you that you talk to about these people.
- Buddy up. I joined IMVU when a personal (real life) friend introduced me to it. We have been on IMVU since 2006 and 2007. Our husbands are on it as well. We have a network. We all know each other and care enough about one another that we watch each others' backs there. It's not just strangers we met online.
- Watch what you say to people. Watch what they say to you. If they start talking cyber-sex or video chats, leave the chat and block them. If they become a problem, report them to the staff.
- If you use a 3D chat where you can choose your avatar's clothing, please be careful what it wears. Believe it or not, scantily clad cartoon characters are 'turn ons' for dangerous people.
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