I’m doing research around how different ages using social networks, communities, and virtual worlds by age, and will compile this list as it grows. I’m looking for established community sites that are mature enough to work with brands.
There is already so much coverage on mainstream social networks like Bebo, MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn that we forget about the other smaller niche networks. First, understand technographics (how ages use social media 18+) by accessing Forrester’s profile tool, available for free.
If you know the demographics for any of these, please leave a comment.
Youth
I’m primarily seeking communties that are under 18, beyond just MySpace.
Club Penguin, Disney
8-12, Virtual WorldStardolls
Young Girls 10-17, Social Network, virtual dollsBarbie Girls
6-16, Virtual WorldWeeWorld
Youth, Avatar based Social networkZookazoo
6-10 year olds, Virtual WorldClub Penguin, Disney
8-12, Social network, virtual dollsGaia
Teens, Virtual WorldHabbo Hotel
European Youth, Virtual WorldCyworld
South Korean youth, (and now global), virtual/social networkNeopets
Youth, Virtual PetsPixie Hollow, Disney
Young Girls, Virtual PetTeen Second Life
Teen, Virtual WorldWebkinz
Youth, Virtual WorldPiczo
Teens, Social NetworkDizzywood
Youth, Virtual World/gamesShining Stars, by Russ
Youth, ‘name a star’
Puzzle Pirates
Youth, Gaming, Virtual World
50+
Now of course, boomers and retired are also going to be on lifestyle social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn, but I’m seeking examples that are focused in on reaching these folks.
Eons
50+, Social NetworkBOOMj
50+, Social NetworkTee Bee Dee
Boomers, Social NetworkAARP
Boomers, Social NetworkThere’s a larger list of Boomer sites, many I’ve not heard from.
Departed
Someone suggests this in the comments in Friendfeed, makes sense.
Legacy
Respectance
Tributes.com
SweetMemoriesSite
ChristianMemorials
PreciousMemoriesAndMoreFor what it’s worth, I hope this blog lives on past my time here.
Related Resources
Danah Boyd has a great PDF on Youth and Social Networks (PDF) Many reports (260) on Forrester site tagged youth
Would add in the game Runescape, which is a English start up out of Cambridge. Enjoys massive traction and is WW for under 16s. If it qualifies as a SN?
Jeremiah, I wrote this post back in November so who knows how much it has changed since then but it may help for your boomer category:
http://emersondirect.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/the-top-30-social-network-sites-for-baby-boomers/
For 40+:
http://www.teebeedee.com
Then there’s weeworld for the youths
http://www.weeworld.com/
What about the virtual world of Shakespeare being created at Indiana Uni – http://swi.indiana.edu/ardenworld.htm
Let’s hope there’s more to virtual worlds for kids than trying to sell toys…
Second Life Teen Grid and Pixie Hollow, disney. Also have Alice.org which is for drag and drop programming of virtual worlds. Fun.
Thanks I’m adding some of these.
Will pass on MMORPG for now
Thanks for the list Jeremiah! I have a 12 year old and she has visited two on your list but never returned. All of her friends are on myspace so much easier for her to connect with them there. She has recently picked up an interest in Ning and working on creating her own social networking site – I’ll let you know how that goes!
My boys are 10 & 11 and big fans of the disney and wee world sites.
Best,
Betty
Thanks Betty!
I’d also add WePlay, which is a sports-based site geared towards 8-13 year-olds (it seems like). Takkle.com is another strictly sports social network but it’s mainly for older teens/high school crowd.
Community.beliefnet.com
Take a look at Dizzywood.com – they presented last week at Under the Radar and are building a great kid’s virtual world. Sweet interface – lot’s of fun.
More info came in from my colleague
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Oh yes!
Doko: http://www.dokodrop.com – social network/game
GirlSense.com “ http://www.girlsense.com “ teen fashion-based community
Moshi Monsters “ http://www.moshimonsters.com “ virtual world (British company)
Zwinktopia “ slightly different, dressable-up avatars, but they have already done some partnerships with clothing firms etc
There is also a very long list of existent and planned teen/younger aimed environments here:
http://www.virtualworldsmanagement.com/2008/youthworlds.html
which is pretty recent -April.
Hope that helps!
Rj
Rebecca Jennings
Tootsville is a virtual world for kids, 6-12.
http://tootsville.com
Only 15% of CyWorld’s population are 13-18 years of age (and only 35% are 13- 24). In fact 22% are over 40. Cyworld just has those child-like avatars to make you think it’s for kids 🙂
Webkinz can be used by kids as young as 3 and can stay relevant to them through their early reading years – 8 to 10 I’d guess.
I find it interesting that parents will pay for their children to join a social community like Webkinz but very few adult networks could get away with charging admission for entry.
http://www.vois.com is an online community for 25-50
AARP recently relaunched its website, which includes a community component. Anyone can sign up to be a part of the community, but as an organization, AARP focuses on the 50+. Check out http://www.aarp.org/onlinecommunity/
Glad you liked Danah Boyd Paper Youth and Social Networks – she is great.
You should also check out Doko, social networking and global trading Game for kids – http://www.dokodrop.com.
Combining physical, virtual world and social networking interaction to help kids get out from behind computers as well.
Doko launched just weeks ago and has already amassed thousands of registered users, connecting children in 73 countries around the globe so far. The game is geared toward tweens – they thought boys would like to more than girls – but the girls are loving the fun characters.
Full Disclosure: I’m helping launch them – but my Nephews love ’em so much – I feel okay sharing.
Please feel to opt-out in sharing if you don’t feel appropriate – Thanks,
Bob C.
You might find this graph of use….
http://www.kzero.co.uk/blog/?page_id=2092
Thanks for including us. You missed Dizzywood, my kid’s favorite community. http://www.dizzywood.com
Check out http://www.newretirement.com/ – it’s mostly financial planning reference right now, but does contain an active Answers section.
Uhh, you missed http://www.roliana.com ( another role-playing site very similar to gaiaonline, but with a lot less users ), and http://www.kinsaki.com ( I think it just started, ‘cuz it has less than 20k people registered. )
I think they’re both for people under 18.
Hope you find this helpfull 😀
Thought this might be helpful… it’s a Virtual Worlds wiki in timeline format – we should merge everyone’s input here: http://www.dipity.com/user/xantherus/timeline/Virtual_Worlds
Another one I have come across is Rocketon (www.rocketon.com). I guess the company is still in private alpha, but I have come across a few articles on it. I am not exactly sure if they are targeting youth, but the art seems to suggest so.
papermint (www.papermint.com): with all this comments, this article became a quite interesting list of social virtual worlds. don’t miss papermint! as undefined and open as paper, rich of possible stories and colorful like LSD.
br,
lev
For Entrepreneurs :: http://www.efactor.com
E.Factor, the fastest growing business community for Entrepreneurs and Investors.
Hey Jeremiah! Thought you’d be interested in checking out Horseland.com, a youth oriented SN site for those with a shared interest in horses. Also, YouthNoise.com for teens interested in social activism. Take care and great site! -jp
antoher up and coming kids world can be found at http://www.gardenpartyworld.com with emphasis on Growing your own fun.
Hi heaard about a new social network call mycirclespace.com it is a nice site that just get started take look at i think thee kids will love it
Some other websites I noticed that weren’t on there are:
Whyville
IMVU
Photobucket
Flicker
Can’t forget about Kaneva, a virtual world for all age groups 10+ ^_^
Hello I am very impressed with this site, thanks for sharing.
I write you soon …
Caring.com has a pretty good community as well.
Check out http://www.kzero.co.uk
Check out http://www.kzero.co.uk
Here is a good portal for virtual worlds for kids.
http://www.mimogames.com
Thanks!
How about Bin Weevils? http://www.binweevils.com
It's 3D virtual world for kids 7-13 years old, where they can create and look after their weevil, play games, socialise with friends, watch videos and much more. It's educational beyond fun!
yall need more virtual games feel sorry for yall
I always wanted to find virtual world domains for my own children! Glad I run into your website… 🙂
i want a coo, virtual world where you can fly own a car and house and have a job and stuff its like come on
i have neaver try this some body told me dont let your kid play second life pll are some times naked and saying bad words ok
im so tired of stardol;l;
what about Pandanda and poptropica and chobots
I know right they forgeting all these virtual worlds
we was talking about virtual worlds
What about fantage? Ages 7-14!
I AM GONNA VISIT ALL THIS OK TO CHECK IF ITS APPROPRIATE
what site are you looking at? ‘looks like kid stuff to me!
Wow i love vitual worlds
I love vitual worlds
i have one…… its ok
i have one…… its ok
fuck me
fuck me
suck my dick
suck my dick
mother fuker fuck me
mother fuker fuck me
 wow I loved dizzywood I guess this is goodbye dizzywood I love you and always will
WHAT A JERK WHO TOOK DIZZYWOOD AWAY
Â
how about panfu?
One of the big concerns for parents is if and how online games damage
the child™s educational development, how time spent on online games
reduces time spent learning, and just if there are any educational or
developmental benefits to online games.
Untold Entertainment, whose motto is the use of entertainment to
improve, rather than degrade, the human condition have come up with a
way to help develop the child™s imagination and skills.
Ryan Creighton was with his daughter at a ˜game jam™ in Toronto when
he got the idea for Games by Kids. Like a science kit that a family can
use to conduct simple experiments on a lazy Saturday afternoon, he
assures us that it will engage both the parent and child alike.
But are there generally any developmental benefits for children from online games?
Online games and video games can be considered here in the same mould.
According to the Entertainment Software Association in the US more than 68% of American households play online games or
video games. And the effects of excessive viewing have been well
documented “ the journal Pediatrics showed a direct relationship between
video game playing and attention problems at school. The study found
that exceeding over 2 hours a day gave a 1.5-2 times likelihood of
attention problems at school.
Â
i love these games but start putting them in goups like 10 threw 15 because parents keep freaking out because her child been seeing someone on line and have a block that says put parents password here
imvu is not for kids its a rude innapropriate
i dnt liek fantage dat mch its fa ike 6 yr olds – 8
I played dizzywood i was obbsessed for a while but i stopped its fricken hard ot make friends lol i hate dem all dem grls think dey all dat -_-“Â
SMALLWORLDS.COM IS DA REAL SHIT ! Â <3
Honestly..
I can never find ANYTHING worth playing.
I am eleven, I’m A pre-teen…Their is stuff for
thirteen Year olds,and stuff for 6 year olds..
People…Make stuff for in-between..11-12.
I’m tired of playing fun games that are for 13 year olds!
Make stuff for 10-12!Â
🙁
-Destiny
I always wanted to find the virtual domains were my children! Happy to meet your site … 🙂
Sexy Games
What about Woozworld? A fun virtual world for kids aged 6 to 18 and up
this is realy good and i got the material here that i searching for.
what hell is Diizzywood, and gurl i had it was shit. just saying
I know everything on club penguin cause its my first time to play that.
1.CLUB PENGUIN
2.MOSHI MONSTERS
3.FANTAGE
4.PAN FU
5.WEBOSAUR
are u felling ok? no one took dizzy wood away
High5
You should really try bin weevils its amazing
wat theÂ
Virtual worlds are too limited for under 13’s.
rlly SMALLWORLDS I RLLY LOVES SMALLWORLDS I HAVE ALL WEARS AND I HAVE MY SHOP AND I HAVEÂ HIGH LVEL 456,ALL WING
rlly SMALLWORLDS I RLLY LOVES SMALLWORLDS I HAVE ALL WEARS AND I HAVE MY SHOP AND I HAVEÂ HIGH LVEL 456,ALL WING
NO! u have 2 be at least 13. if u aren’t your account will be deleted! don’t listen to him. check online before you join 2 see the rules. i did ITS 13!!
I like Onverse, Frenzoo, and IMVU.
you forgot Spark CIty World . its for girls ages 6 and up
you forgot Spark CIty World . its for girls ages 6 and up
Really good content. I was searching for this forever…
i want girl frien, who taking with any time and any ware
kiki
fuck ya
i can find wat i am lokin 4 i am fen to go siko
all the games are boring
heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy