Even those ubiquitous social networking sites are a worry for parents, who sometimes react by trying to keep their children from interacting online.
But there are sites offering social networking services specifically designed for kids. And their creators of such say they offer a safer, more age-appropriate opportunity for children to interact online and prepare to be good digital citizens, although some observers fear they still expose children to advertising and put their privacy at risk.
Mainstream social networking sites such as Facebook have age restrictions to keep younger users off but those rules aren’t stopping kids from signing up. Facebook requires users to be at least 13 but Consumer Reports estimates 7.5 million users below that age have accounts.
Kid-friendly social networking sites reverse that and go for those younger users, with some such as Disney’s Club Penguin targeting children as young as six, and try to keep out adults. Parents are allowed to monitor their children’s activities.
Togetherville, also owned by Disney, links accounts to parents’ Facebook pages, while WhatsWhat.me users facial recognition technology to verify users.
Chad Perry, founder of ScuttlePad, a site for users aged 6 to 11, says his service is designed to provide a safe space while preparing children for their online lives as they grow up. Once a parent signs their child up, young users on ScuttlePad put together a profile, add friends and can share photos and updates.
“ScuttlePad . . . teaches social networking fundamentals and encourages developing language skills in a safe and secure environment,” Mr. Perry wrote in an e-mail.
“Most kids don’t know how to protect themselves from online predators or bullying. Just like we teach our kids to cross the street safely, we need to teach them to use social networks safely as well.”
