Social networking is one of the most common online activities these days, with sites like Facebook and MySpace becoming more popular every day. However, these sites are not necessarily safe for younger teens and tweens, even though they want a space to network, share, and even shop online.
Enter Shop Like Anna, a secure shopping destination, content portal, and social network. It requires parental permission to use, is also monitored very closely by the staff and has a working relationship with the FBI.
According to Mashable, Shop Like Anna "has all the makings of a niche venue that could carry and grow to a popular standing among competitors. The amount of material isn't voluminous at present, mind you. It's more kindling than flame, really. But if security-conscious Web users - parents and children alike - want for a site that enables a rich interactive experience through a variety of features, Shop Like Anna is one player that truly seems to manage an appreciably qualitative balance."
Tween Shopping Sites
Shop Like Anna
Trend Themes
1. Secure Tween Shopping - The need exists for more secure online platforms specifically catering to tweens and young teens, presenting disruptive innovation opportunities in secure e-commerce solutions, content portals, and social networks.
2. Verified Parents Permissions - Platforms that implement verified parental permissions should be the norm, not the exception, creating innovation opportunities for child-friendly content that is not only secure but also enabling of rich interactive experiences.
3. Monitored Social Media for Children - Creating more monitored social media platforms for children is essential, leading to disruptive innovation opportunities for tech companies that focus on child safety and security.
Industry Implications
1. E-commerce - Secure e-commerce solutions for tweens, requiring verified parental permissions and monitored activity, can radically transform the industry and make it more accessible to younger audiences.
2. Social Media - Creating more monitored social media platforms for children presents a significant opportunity for companies that can provide a unique offering of security, child-friendly content, and vibrant interactive experiences.
3. Cybersecurity - The need for more secure online platforms for young teens and tweens presents an opportunity for cybersecurity companies to develop products and solutions that address the unique challenges of providing safety and security for children online.