Togetherville: A New Social Network for Kids

With the recent uproar about Facebook privacy, as well as with longstanding concerns about children's safety online, the launch of an innovative new social media site, Togetherville, seems very timely. Togetherville is an online community site designed for children under age ten. Although some parents might be reluctant to introduce children this young to a social network, Togetherville aims to help raise responsible digital citizens. Part of the impetus behind Togetherville is that children should learn to navigate online worlds in a safe environment alongside their parents, so that when they make a move into other social networks, they are better equipped to do so safely.

Unlike other social networking sites, there are no strangers, avatars, or anonymous usernames in Togetherville. A parent must create a child's account and is encouraged to use a child's real name and picture. While this might be cause for concern on other social networking sites, Togetherville strives to make that safe. A child's network in Togetherville is solely comprised of existing relationships they have "offline" and ones pre-approved by parents. Togetherville uses a parent's existing Facebook account to connect with people parents know, which in turn is used to populate a child's network. Parents can approve the addition of other parents and children into their "neighborhood."

By focusing on real-world relationships, Togetherville provides an online environment where children can learn to game, share, and communicate with others. But it's an environment where parents have more control over the shape in which these interactions occur and where parents can really monitor what kids do there. "The Internet is the greatest learning tool ever created, but many parents are reluctant to let their child explore for a variety of reasons," says Mandeep Singh Dhillon, co-founder and CEO of Togetherville. "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. We built Togetherville using the spirit of the neighborhoods most of us remember when we were kids - where everyone knows everyone else and watches 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."

With all the emphasis on learning and safety, Togetherville does reassure kids and parents that the site is fun. There are multiple games and activities for children to try, as well as badges for good behavior and a way for kids to earn allowance to spend on the site.

While some parents might balk at allowing their young children to participate in a social network, chances are many kids are already there, or will be there soon -- whether parents know about it or not. Togetherville hopes to provide families with a safe entry point into social media and social networking.