Web site goes directly to parents to protect kid’s online privacy
Contact: Tad Gospodarek
(414) 271-5437 or tad.gospodarek@circle1network.com
MILWAUKEE, Wis., April 18, 2001—Circle 1 Network (C1N) has begun testing a new online approach that will make it easier for parents to register their kids and keep them playing on kid-safe sites. The new approach, developed in cooperation with the FTC, will reduce expenses for kids’ sites, some of which have gone out of business since the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) took effect one year ago.
C1N operates the longest running "edutainment" site for kids (KidsCom.com) and a site for parents (Parents-Talk.com). In 1996, the Center for Media Education filed a complaint with the FTC naming KidsCom, making the site the first children’s Web site to be examined on issues of online marketing and privacy. The FTC recommended that enforcement action not be taken. The company became involved in the development of COPPA, and has since maintained a steady dialogue with the FTC on better ways to meet the spirit and intent of the law.
Previous registration approaches used by most sites for COPPA compliance required parents to mail or fax in approval, or provide a personal credit card number, for their kids to fully access sites. Handling the registrations added costs for site operators, while the time required to send in the forms sometimes caused children to leave kids’ sites and look for sites not designed for kids. The new registration approach will allow parents to register their children online via Parents-Talk. Parents can register their kids online at: http://www.parents-talk.com/cgi-bin/registration/ptkc/ptkc_register.pl.
"COPPA is a necessary challenge that you can either whine about or get innovative with," said Jorian Clarke, C1N president and founder. "We're taking a different approach to make it easier for parents because we so strongly believe in what COPPA stands for."
COPPA provides regulations for protecting kids 12 and under on the Internet. April 21, 2001 is the law’s one-year anniversary.
KidsCom.com gives kids a voice to the world and to each other through edutainment, monitored chat, international pen pals, video game tips and more. The site is fully COPPA-compliant. Parents-Talk.com is an online community for moms and dads of all generations to learn more about parenting and to share their opinions and insights on being a parent.
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