Twofour Digital Successfully Launches MyCBBC

Twofour Digital, a leading media technology company, and CBBC have successfully launched one of the first completely safe social media networking sites for under 12s.
MyCBBC, which launched in mid-March, has over 100,000 registered users and will now become the centrepiece of the CBBC website.
A safe introduction to social networking, the site is designed to familiarise a young audience with the latest technologies. Visitors to the website are able to personalise their own den by choosing from a selection of themed furniture, wallpaper and various accessories. They can create their own profile and invite friends into their den to leave messages and also profile their interests, which in turn prompts the site to offer appropriate information about CBBC programmes.
Children who create a MyCBBC den can add up to 16 friends to the "Friends Book" in their den, providing they know their friends' CBBC member nicknames. Only if two users are in each other's friends book can they visit each other's dens. This ensures that children are in mutual agreement about who they allow to view their space. Friends are allowed to leave a message for the den owner when they visit but only by selecting messages from a pre-approved list - for example 'Cool room! Check mine out!' or 'Hope you had a good day at school!'.
MyCBBC differs from social networking sites in a number of significant ways. Most importantly, it is not possible to ascertain a child's identify from either their den or nickname. Secondly, messages between friends are limited only to a pre-determined set of comments. Thirdly, only friends you can invite in can see your personal space.
Paul Tarplee, Managing Director of Twofour Digital, said: "Consideration for child safety and protection has been at the forefront of the design of MyCBBC. The site goes beyond recommendations in the Home Office Guidelines to ensure the safety of its users. Because we have designed the site to introduce some of the basic concepts commonly associated with web 2.0-type interaction, we have taken every opportunity to reinforce the message that whilst exciting, the internet can also be a dangerous place if the Stay Safe rules are ignored. This is one of the many ways in which the site will help children to build useful media literacy skills."
Marc Goodchild from BBC Children's Interactive, said: "We know younger children are increasingly sharing personal information on unregulated social networking sites, unaware of the risks they pose. MyCBBC is a much needed alternative where children can express their personalities and demonstrate their creativity in a safe environment and learn how to minimise risks online when they're older and begin to surf the wider web."
(KMcA/JM)