There has been some controversy surrounding the Webkinz craze as children as young as 5 are getting hooked on spending time with their adoptee and the computer. The chat function on the Webkinz site initially inspired some concerns but enough safety precautions have been taken (only pre-set messages can be sent, messages can only be sent to people on a friends-list) to appease most parents. For the web savvy out there, it's easy to see the connection with sites like Second Life or Cyworld. Webkinz is building the next generation of users one plush animal at a time.
Note: The Webkinz does not actually 'do' anything, i.e. it doesn't have any animatronic capabilities.
