Pony Forums for kids

[horseygal]

  Can anyone help my daughter Cate. She really wants to join an online MLP forum BUT she's only 7. Does anyone know of a site for kids??? Thanks.

[RAMChYLD]

The problem is, there is relatively few forums for kids out there. COPPA makes it a pain to create a forum for kids, and makes it a pain for kids (and their parents) to sign up for a forum. One forum I used to moderate for requires that parents download and sign off a COPPA release form, and then somehow get a fax machine to fax it back, before the kid's account can be approved.

That said, I wish you luck in finding a suitable for-kids MLP forum.

[partypony566]

I've never seen one :/

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Not likely...  there are very specific legislations regarding children and the Internet.  Anyone under the age of 13 is not supposed to be given access to "open-ended" things like forums and Facebook and so forth.  They can participate in websites where appropriate activities are provided in safe , scripted context that prevents them from truly interacting with the whole of the Internet.  Some of the safe sites include Neopets and American Girl. But the sites don't provide the ability for say, a 50-year adult to pretend they are a child and then start talking about sexual topics or asking for personal info, or flashing their bodies on a webcam conversation.  You go to these sites to play games and possibly interact in previously-scripted scenarios that don't allow children to say, "I'm Sally; I have a three year old sister and we live in Typicaltown, USA.  My school is Rambling Oak Academy and my favorite candy is Skittles.  I play at the park on Saturdays and my mommy and daddy let me ride my bike alone there!"

Nothing wrong with browsing the Arena with her over your shoulder though!  You can explain the jokes and make sure she isn't confused by anything she may see or read.  If she has comments, you are more than welcome to post, "My daughter says...."  But it's under your control and therefore no worries! 

Hope that helps...

[starrypawz]

Yeah there's very little in the way of kid friendly forums.
 When I was on neopets if you were under the age of 13 you had a very restricted account and couldn't do much in the way of community stuff like you couldn't send neomail, or have neofriends. Like has been mentioned its due to COPPA so I don't know what to suggest

[hathorcat]

Unfortunately, for pretty much all the reasons LBS, mentions there isn't really a forum site like that about. The legalities and responsibilities in managing a group of children on line where it is seldom possible to be 100% certain on the real age and identity behind posters makes it potential nightmare for any forum owner - for that reason they dont tend to exist and its also the reason most forums like this one, which is family friendly in content, dont permit anyone under the age of 14 to be on the boards.

For as young as 7, I would suggest sites like Hasbros own MLP site - no forums but a variety of content which hopefully she will find interesting.

[horseygal]

Thanks guys!! Unfortunately Cate finds the Hasbro site a bit daggy and I've managed to convince her to go back to Nickelodeon and Reading eggs for now. She does love having a look on here with me- she LOVES G1 ponies;)