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KidsCom.com

KidsCom.com is a virtual world geared toward kids ages 8-14. KidsCom.com is published by Circle 1 Network, LLC in Milwaukee, WI and was first launched in 1995 as a site for kids. After receiving new capital in 2006, Circle 1 Network used those funds to enhance and expand KidsCom.com – a site that the company describes as safe, fun and educational.

As a result of those funds, the virtual world was launched in 2007 and currently has over 1 million users. The site also has the CARU seal of approval confirming that the information practices of KidsCom, have been reviewed and meet the standards of the Children’s Advertising Review Unit’s Kid’s Privacy Safe Harbor Program.

KidsCom.com gives kids an opportunity to learn more about climate change while playing games, taking care of a virtual pet, and making new friends

KidsCom.com (www.kidscom.com)
offers two types of membership, Subscription and Free:

Free Members are called “Allies” and are shown on the screen in white t-shirts and black pants. They have the ability to chat and interact with much of the site content, but they cannot purchase clothing, do not have a house, and cannot be Team Leaders for the Team Challenges.

Subscription Memberships are available at a monthly, quarterly or yearly rate. These members are referred to as “Idea Seekers” and can be Team Leaders for the Team Challenges, can purchase and wear clothing and other accessories, have access to a wider variety of virtual pets, have a house which they can buy furniture for and decorate.

KidsCom.com is a web-site for kids with games, chat rooms for kids and other child activities. The games on the site focus on fun, learning and Internet safety.

Potential users include students working on levels one and two of the mathematics curriculum.

History - KidsCom.com and the FTC

KidsCom was one of the earliest kids-only sites on the Internet, having been online since February 1995. On May 13, 1996, the Center for Media Education (CME) filed a petition requesting that the Federal Trade Commission investigate and bring a law enforcement action for alleged deceptive practices in the operation of an Internet Web site called “KidsCom,” then operated by SpectraCom, Inc.

The FTC decided not to bring any charges or enforcement action against KidsCom.com for the following reasons: First, KidsCom has modified its Web site in significant respects. Grilling Tips

KidsCom now sends an e-mail to parents when children register at the site, providing notice of its collection practices. Parents are provided with the option to object to release of information to third parties on an aggregate, anonymous basis. Most importantly, KidsCom does not release personally identifiable information to third parties without prior parental approval.

KidsCom was one of the first children's sites to educate children with on-line safety tips (a move that many other sites have now mimicked). KidsCom was one of the first sites to encourage children to seek out their parent's permission before putting information on-line and has come up with creative ways to involve parents in their children's on-line activities. KidsCom is one of perhaps only two sites on the Internet that takes the extra step of attempting to notify parents when their children have registered with the site. And KidsCom is the only site on the Internet with The Ad Bug, a character that continuously appears everywhere on the site there is advertising, clearly drawing a line for kids between advertising and editorial content.

KidsCom also now discloses to the site visitor the purposes for which it is collecting the information. Second, there was no evidence that KidsCom at any time released any personally identifiable information to third parties for commercial marketing or any other purposes. Third, the collection of information from children on the Internet is widespread. The staff of the Center for Media Education determined not to recommend that the FTC initiate a law enforcement action against KidsCom.

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