Disney Buys Kid-Friendly Social Network

vansau

Mortician of Love
May 25, 2010
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Disney Buys Kid-Friendly Social Network



There's apparently a safe alternative to Facebook for kids, and Disney now owns it.

Disney's been on a bit of a buying spree lately. There was Marvel, there was Playdom, there was Tapulous, and now there's a kid-oriented social network called Togetherville. At the moment, details on the purchase haven't been revealed.

Togetherville is a social network designed for kids who are ten-years-old or younger. It exited beta last year and "mimics the experience of adult social networking sites, i.e. Facebook but in an age-appropriate and parent-monitored environment." The main idea is that kids who use the site will create "neighborhoods" with Facebook friends and school communities, which then lets the users (and their parents) connect with school friends.

Parents, in turn, can interact with their kids in Togetherville. While kids can play games, watch videos, make art, and interact with their friends, their parents have to approve each friend their child adds to their neighborhood.

Of course, this isn't the first time Disney's been involved with the online community scene, though this is the first time the company's had an actual social network: I actually had an account with <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Magic_Kingdom#Closure>Virtual Magic Kingdom, and I've had a few friends who enjoyed playing <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toontown_Online>Toontown Online. That said, I'm not sure if kids younger than ten need to be engaging in online social networking ...

Source: Geek

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Chrono212

Fluttershy has a mean K:DR
May 19, 2009
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vansau said:
That said, I'm not sure if kids younger than ten need to be engaging in online social networking ...
I second that.

OT: Well, there are worse organisations that could have bought this and it doesn't seem like a bad concept.
But is it really business viable for a site like this using the same principle as Facebook when Facebook already exists? And with that dubious issue of 'how old should you be before you start "networking"?'
Hasn't Disney already been critisied of 'shortening childhood' already? That's just a dim memory, I couldn't give you any examples.

[sub]Rhetorical question overload >.>[/sub]
 

Verlander

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Apr 22, 2010
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Armyguy0 said:
So is Zynga going to sue Disney for useing ville?
They should, but I doubt they will. Disney must have pretty good lawyers, to cover up all the dead children and immigrants at Disney World XD
 

JourneyThroughHell

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Sep 21, 2009
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Well, if it's limited to "neighbourhoods", it should be safe. If not... yeah.

Also, parent-monitored? What's the point, really? If parents are around, they probably can find an activity that's a hell of a lot better than sitting on Facebook.

Seems wasteful.
 

OniaPL

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Nov 9, 2010
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<img src=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f8pXcUqZgA8/S4WVIKw56_I/AAAAAAAAAW0/ZrXsOOxtFNE/s320/evil-disney.jpg>

They will eat your soul.
 

RA92

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Jan 1, 2011
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Yes! Now I will infiltrate this innocuous medium and insinuate fallacious ideas within these young minds!

Like:

"Never use the potty! It will swallow your ass one day!"

"Buy more land!"

"Pokemon is awesome!"
<youtube=FkqBJSl8aOg>


Muhahahahaha!
 

HellspawnCandy

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Oct 29, 2009
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inb4 Pedobear.
OT:I don't understand why. This just sounds really sketchy. What would these 10 year olds even talk about? Why would parents want this anyways if they're so ready to press child porno charges on some guy making a funny video? I just don't get this at all.
 

teqrevisited

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Mar 17, 2010
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The intentions are plain to see and innocent enough but I can see this turning into one big paedo magnet.
 

Random Fella

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Nov 17, 2010
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I have a good motto for 'em:
'Togethorville, bringing kids and parents closer by keeping them apart.'
 

RMcD94

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Nov 25, 2009
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I'm not sure if kids younger than ten need to be engaging in online social networking ...
I'm not sure if kids younger than ten need to be engaging in social interactions.

What.

Just cause it's a different medium is such a silly reason, like not letting them use phones, or letters.
 

Wintermoot

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Aug 20, 2009
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SAT4NSLILHELPER said:
Can we get a separate Xbox Live for children as well?
I don,t think it will change the amount of four letter words on XBL
OT
I think this going to be mostly used by creepy old men