#Zwinky download safe verification

This is a scary thought in a site sans filters,as Izzy Neis rightfully points out in her new blog post here and this Zwinktopia blogspot confirms in their collection of detailed postings.

Zwinktopia is a particularly strong draw for middle schoolers emulating social media mannerisms and networked community chat…especially when they feel they’ve “outgrown” some of the safe site-lockbox hubs in search of more freedom and interaction. With 29 hangouts to explore from dorms and colleges to beaches, delis and bowling, I predict kids will be changing avatar clothes faster than a Milan runway of virtual paper dolls. We’re keeping eyes peeled on the “add a friend” network, security standards, ease of use and corporate commercialism, but so far the kids are mostly interested in drag-n-drop dressing and shuffling their avatars hither and yon.

#Zwinky download safe verification

I talked to a few 12-year olds that have already popped “in-world,” to ask about navigation of chat and functionality, since this Time online article revealed “there is no age verification process and Zwinktopia does not filter sexually explicit comments.” (thank you, safety queen, Izzy Neis!) My advertising, brandwashing and privacy bells are playing pinball here, “ka-ching, ding-ding,” prompting me to ponder data mining opportunists and multi-media “shopping experiences” from drooling profiteers seeking ‘fresh flesh’ on the $51 billion tween scene.

With 4.7 million unique users to open up their world, they have a built-in launchpad to take off…PLUS youth immersive worlds are booming AND their avatars are not just ‘in-world’ they can travel all over the web. A little TOO smart…Did they just get lucky or did they strategically plan this? Are you thinking what I’m thinking? 606Tech adds that Zwinky already has 20 million active members making it one of the largest launches ever. Kids have been creating customizable Zwinky identities to plop on their blogs, profiles, IM and chat sites representing themselves for quite some time…Now they have their own world to play in too.Īccording to TechCrunch, they’re launching at the peak of virtual world hype. Call it a marketing hook, tween baiting, or young teen branding brilliance, Zwinktopia, the online virtual world that just launched Monday has leveraged their growth substantially by familiarizing kids with their avatar site Zwinky, first.