Plastic surgery, dieting, high fashion - are these the things pre-teens should be worrying about? A new internet game believes they are
The name says it all. Miss Bimbo, the new game craze in Europe, champions the frivolous woman who is obsessed with her looks and her social status and will do anything to get a boyfriend. Not much wrong with that, except this game is targeted at girls as young as nine.
The free, online fashion game Miss Bimbo gets players to care for a slim, virtual bimbo by buying her trendy clothing, accessories and even plastic surgery.
Within few months of launching in England, the site has already drawn 600,000 gamers. In France, where it originated, there are 1.2 million 'bimbos'.
But as the game's popularity grows, so does the anger of adults who say this kind of game promotes an unhealthy obsession with dieting, consumerism and the irrational pursuit of beauty. It does not put much stock in the finer human traits of diligence, study or love.
'This website sends the message that to be successful you need to be a bimbo whose main focus is changing the way your virtual character looks, through dieting, breast implants and plastic surgery,' says local nutritionist Wynnie Chan who checked out the game.