Google has just launched Lively - a virtual "3D world" in the same genre as Second Life. The service is free and open to anyone 13 years or older - but parents should know that the service doesn't actually ask for an age or date of birth and is definitely not appropriate for younger children.

Like other virtual worlds, users select an avatar - a cartoon like character - that can walk around this virtual world and interact with others. You can dress them from an available wardrobe but you can't currently design your own avatar or clothing. This is good from a "safety" point of view because reduces the chance of an avatar being dressed or presented in a way that puts out the wrong message. Unlike virtual worlds designed for young children, avatars can "speak" freely (it's actually text in a chat box). There is no technology to prevent a user from giving out private information such as their phone number or home address. From what I can tell, there are no filters to block out "bad words."

You can select a "room" for your avatar from a wide selection, along with furnishings that include chairs, sofas, tables, lamps and other objects. You can also include a TV set or a photo frame that shows videos from YouTube or pictures from Google's Picasa photo sharing service. These videos or photos must meet YouTube's or Picasa's terms of service that prohibits nudity, other inappropriate content or any that violates copyright restrictions.  However, of course, one can never be 100% sure that such videos might not slip by the folks who watch for it.

ConnectSafely.org, the non-profit Internet safety group I help run, has developed "Safety Tips for Lively Parents" as well as "Safety Tips for Lively Citizens."