BBC Creates Online World For Kiddies January 24, 2007

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CBBC, the child-friendly bit of the BBC, has announced plans to create a virtual world for kids, similar to Second Life. Kids will be able to create an avatar and explore a world which, unlike Second Life, will not involve cash, money laundering, shady property deals, political back-biting, corporate advertising (unless you count Coco Pops) or job-hunting. You may ask what’s the point but the Beeb thinks kids need a new outlet:

"It will give children a chance to move around a safe, secure world where they can not only interact with familiar characters but have an opportunity to make that world a more fascinating place with their own imaginations,” said Richard Deverell, controller BBC Children.

It will launch in the Autumn. Security and safety is top of the agenda so you can rule out chat rooms or kids being allowed to build new parts of the world.

Just like real life then, no money, no power, no influence. Well, at least they’ll be allowed to design their own hoodies.-Martin Lynch

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