Togetherville


 * __[|Togetherville] __**

Togetherville mimics adult social networks in a kid-appropriate way. Each neighborhood is built around each specific child and remains closed to outsiders. Kids have their own profile pages, complete with their photos. In Togetherville, kids can
 * play games and brainteasers
 * watch videos
 * create artwork
 * send and receive gifts
 * update their status with pre-screened text phrases, called "quips," such as "Who is going to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid?" and "Aced the test. Oh yeah!!"
 * send "safe" messages to friends
 * and comment on or "Heart" their friends' activities.

(togetherville.com/about)
 * Resources **:

Features of Togetherville About Togetherville Togetherville FAQ


 * Strengths **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">No links to outside pages
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Togetherville provides kid-safe communication, privacy controls, and a parent-managed friend list through Facebook.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Only Parents (or legal guardians) who have gone through the process of verifying their identity based on COPPA standards, are allowed to create and administer accounts for their children.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">You select the trusted Facebook friends and their kids to create your child's safe and secure online neighborhood. There is no possibility of anonymous users.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Drop-down pre-set messaging, moderated commenting, no private chat, and no uploads. Parents can see all activity in real time on the child’s wall.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Kids are not searchable or discoverable. Parents choose who has access to their child’s wall inside Togetherville and what they share on their own Facebook wall.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In Togetherville, you don't just manage your kid's profile - you play, communicate, and share with them.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Parents Control Friends List **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">You build your kid's real world neighborhood of family and friends using Facebook.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">(togetherville.com/safe)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Weaknesses **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Requires Internet access
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Parents must have a Facebook account to register their child for an account
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Parents can only choose “friends” for their child whose parents have registered for an account
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Registration includes a one cent charge that must be made using a credit card


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Opportunities **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Collaborating on projects
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Developing appropriate online social skills in a safe environment
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Students can create artwork, stories, etc. and publish them for their friends and family
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Increased communication within families
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Increased communication with the teacher and students as well as their parents


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Threats **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Parents and teachers must explain to students the additional privacy protection provided. Because this is not typical of other social networking sites, students must understand that using those sites have less restrictions.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ideas for the Classroom **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Teachers can provide homework assistances
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Teachers can communicate important information to parents in real time
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Students can develop Internet social skills interacting with classmates and friends
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Students can post reactions to class read-a-louds or stories they are reading independently
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Students can explore (filtered) YouTube videos and post links to topics discussed in class
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Students can create illustrations to stories they are reading and post them for the class to comment on