Safety is #1 when it comes to kids in all realms; we’re pretty well versed in helmets, seat belts and lifejackets, but now that our kids are using technology in school and even in strollers we have a new realm of safety to consider. Zigazoo, the world’s largest AND SAFEST social media app for kids, was designed by a couple of teachers with kids of their own who take safety VERY seriously. We follow industry standards for safety and are certified as a safe harbor by Kidsafe and have been called out in the media for being a place where kids and families are comfortable spending time. As a cofounder and Zigazoo parent myself, I want to really unpack what safety looks like on Zigazoo:
- Safe community:
Every child on Zigazoo has to be verified to ensure that they are indeed a child, not an adult and not a bot. Our video verification process requires kids to show their faces in an endearing clip with their responsible adult (don’t worry, you can make your video private if you don’t want to share your face or your child’s face on the Zigazoo feed). Most other kids’ apps just ask “are you a kid or a parent?” anyone can select either, if kids can do a simple math problem they can pose as a parent, if an adult is ok with lying, they’re in as a kid. This not only keeps the wrong people out of the community, but promotes the value of kids having a supportive adult on the journey with them as they learn to use technology safely and kindly.
Zigazoo is also carefully structured to be an emotionally safe community; not only are bad actors kept out, but those who participate are constantly encouraged to uphold community standards. The flow of Zigazoo is modeled after the Project-Based-Learning pedagogy where kids view an inspiration made by leaders including other kids, celebrities, athletes, authors, and educators and respond to a challenge. These mentor content creators model behavioral expectations: kindness, friendliness, positivity and creative thinking setting a tone that lets kids feel safe sharing their ideas, taking risks and interacting without fear of being judged.
- Safe content:
Every single piece of content that kids see on the Zigazoo feed has been run through a stringent moderation process. Moderators use a matrix that outlines everything from what words, music, and images are appropriate for kids, to what constitutes positive and negative sentiment with the goal of building rather than destroying self confidence. On other apps parents set their kids up with a video or content thread that they are comfortable with, turn their heads for a second and return to find their child tumbling down a toxic rabbit hole. The violence, bullying, negative instigating, harmful ideation, sexual suggestio, and adult content that parents are trying to protect their kids from is simply not present on Zigazoo. It is not allowed.
What IS allowed is for kids to inspire other kids, to show their best free throw, favorite book, coolest dance move, most beloved pet. It is a place where kids feel heard, where their peers are interested in their ideas, and where they can get new ideas in return. By responding to challenges that highlight common interests, they can bond with peers from diverse backgrounds and share passions beyond the boundaries of their own communities. Our own son became interested in other Zigazoo kids’ piano playing and was inspired to practice his own instrument more. Social Media is powerful in all the ways, we are working to shine that power in a positive direction.
- Safe behaviors:
One of the greatest fears that parents have about social media outside of exposure to inappropriate people and content (kept at bay on Zigazoo by the verification and moderation procedures) is its impact on self esteem. Kids can gain great confidence from articulating and presenting their ideas, but most platforms that allow them to put themselves out there also allow them to be struck down by negative comments. Zigazoo does NOT allow text commenting, the reasoning being that kids need to learn how to support and complement each other before being given this freedom (let’s be honest, adults need this too). There are many creative ways to celebrate someone’s work on Zigazoo: virtual gifts, shout outs, video responses and even algorithms that work to shine light on all efforts. Video and voice rather than text responses inspire accountability, curbing the cruelty unlocked when someone can hide behind a keyboard. As an exercise I did a quick audit of the comments on two “kid friendly” social media apps and within 5 minutes I found 5 insults, 4 sexually suggestive compliments and 7 examples of kids decoding their usernames to give their real identity. The text box said “be nice” but that was clearly where the enforcement ended- any parents out there: does just saying “be nice” ever work?! Don’t get me wrong, there were also lots of other comments intended to celebrate, learn and genuinely bond, but these should be the only ones that kids see, not the rest.
It takes a lot of practice to learn healthy behaviors, and Zigazoo is designed to support the development of Digital Citizenship skills both in content that explicitly teaches them as well as the repetition of patterns designed to practice healthy habits.
On Zigazoo kids:
1. Get inspired by a challenge
2. Share their creativity in a video response
3. Celebrate and get celebrated
4. REPEAT
Just like in a classroom, friend group, or family, when kids practice kindness they recognize the positive feelings they can create, and they become leaders. When they experience the kindness of others they are free to develop and share their own creativity, feeling safe enough to put their unique and authentic selves out there. The goal is that kids will be protected at Zigazoo while they’re young and when they graduate to the social media spaces that were NOT specially designed for safety and positivity, they will be equipped to lead the way to a brighter future.
