List of Communities, Virtual Worlds, and Social Networks for Youth, Boomers, Retired, and Beyond

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 World

Stardolls
Young Girls 10-17, Social Network, virtual dolls

Barbie Girls
6-16, Virtual World

WeeWorld
Youth, Avatar based Social network

Zookazoo
6-10 year olds, Virtual World

Club Penguin, Disney
8-12, Social network, virtual dolls

Gaia
Teens, Virtual World

Habbo Hotel
European Youth, Virtual World

Cyworld
South Korean youth, (and now global), virtual/social network

Neopets
Youth, Virtual Pets

Pixie Hollow, Disney
Young Girls, Virtual Pet

Teen Second Life
Teen, Virtual World

Webkinz
Youth, Virtual World

Piczo
Teens, Social Network

Dizzywood
Youth, Virtual World/games

Shining 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 Network

BOOMj
50+, Social Network

Tee Bee Dee
Boomers, Social Network

AARP
Boomers, Social Network

There’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
PreciousMemoriesAndMore

For 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

    • 108 Replies to “List of Communities, Virtual Worlds, and Social Networks for Youth, Boomers, Retired, and Beyond”

    1. 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?

    8. 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

    10. 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.

    12. 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.

    13. 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

    15. 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 🙂

    16. Pingback: List of Communities, Virtual Worlds, and Social Networks for Youth, Boomers, Retired, and Beyond | Webkinz Blog

    17. 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.

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    23. 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.

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    31. 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 😀

    33. 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.

    34. 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

    36. 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

    39. Some other websites I noticed that weren’t on there are:
      Whyville
      IMVU
      Photobucket
      Flicker

    49. 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

    50. 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

    68.  wow I loved dizzywood I guess this is goodbye dizzywood I love you and always will

    71. 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.
       

    72. 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

    75. 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 -_-“ 

      SMALLWORLDS.COM IS DA REAL SHIT !  <3

    76. 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! 
      🙁
      -Destiny

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    85. I know everything on club penguin cause its my first time to play that.
      1.CLUB PENGUIN
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    97. 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!!

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