With all the big social networking websites like Facebook and Myspace under scrutiny for the lack of privacy controls and inadequate security, parents are hoping for a more kid friendly social networking platforms.
With the new generation being born into the digital age, using the Internet and social networking have become commonplace for kids at a younger and younger age. This presents a complicated problem for parents. Should they disallow their kids from using these sites just because there may be some unsavory characters also using them? How can parents teach young children the dangers of the Internet while still allowing them to use today’s most common tools like social networking?
To address these concerns, a new social networking site has emerged designed just for kids. The platform, called Togetherville, is made specifically for young children between the ages of 6 to 13. The idea behind the site is that children can only communicate with people that their parents have approved, such as their real life friends, other children’s parents, and family members. And since the only way for someone to get in contact with your child is for the parent to first approve them first, there is no chance that your child can be target by cyber predators.
“The Internet is the greatest learning tool ever created, but many parents are reluctant to let their child explore for a variety of reasons. By restricting Internet usage for kids under 13, we’re missing an important opportunity to help them develop the online social skills they need in today’s wired world,” said Mandeep Singh Dhillon, co-founder and CEO of Togetherville, Inc., and a father of three children under 10.
“We built Togetherville using the spirit of the neighborhoods most of us remember when we were kids – where everyone knows everyone else and [watched] out for each other. In Togetherville, parents have peace of mind that their kids are playing with people they know and trust and kids have fun while learning the tools they need to become good digital citizens.”
Another great feature of this social networking site is that unlike Facebook and Myspace, it is completely advertisement free, and doesn’t bombard your children with products and links that will send them to potentially harmful websites.
If you do have a young child, Togetherville sounds like a pretty good way to introduce them to the Internet and social networking. Best of all, this platform is free to use.