ChromaKids - Fred Rogers Centre at Saint Vincent Hospital

This review of ChromaKids was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 10 May 2016.

About the app

This section contains details about the app provided by an ACCM Reviewer.

ACCM review

This review of ChromaKids contains the following information:

• The level to which the game was reviewed
• App description
• Reviewers comments
• In App purchasing
• Online information
• Gambling
• Advertising and product placement
• Gender stereotypes and sexual references
• Coarse language
• Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents
• Other

The level to which the game was reviewed

This app was reviewed for approximately 1 hour.

App description

ChromaKids is a drawing app designed for children. The central objective is to draw images and share them with others via email, which is done by using a paint tool. The skills required include creativity, basic reflexes, and motor skills.

Reviewers comments

When the app is first opened, players are shown a screen where they must create an account – this requires an email address, display name, password, and a photo (optional). This is a necessary component before players are able to move onto gameplay. Once this is completed, players are shown a screen with four different options. The first option takes the player to a drawing menu, where they can either “Draw by myself” or “Draw for someone”. The former takes the player to a screen where they have a blank canvas, a variety of colour options, as well as a Save option for creations. The latter takes the player to an area where they can draw an image and “search for a buddy” to send the image to via email. Any image drawn in the “Draw by myself” section can be emailed to any discovered buddy via inputting their email address. This function appears to be entirely unmoderated – it is possible to send inappropriate drawings and photos successfully via email, without any apparent consequence.

The second menu option takes the player to a screen of saved drawings. From here, these can be sent to other players.

The third option is a parent information section. Within this, users are informed that Chromakids is designed for any children aged 3+ years to be used with their caregivers. Chromakids is described as an “interactive artistic experience for children aged three and older”. On this screen, there is also an icon called a button key. This allows the user to see what the various in-game icons do, and offers a brief explanation for each of them.

The last in-app option offers players the ability to turn off various settings, such as the in-game music, sound effects and prompts, as well as the ability to remove or modify the set email profile.

This app contains no advertising or in-app purchase options

In App purchasing

No- None found

Online information

Players can connect to one another in an unrestricted sense via email addresses, and send images or photos to one another. There is no moderation of images that can be sent.

Gambling

N/A.

Advertising and product placement

N/A.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

N/A.

Coarse language

N/A.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

N/A.

Other

N/A.

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