Waddle on

penguin.jpgSo this is what the kids these days think about us 18 and overs: hunched over penguins with canes. At least, that’s what the users in Club Penguin, an online social networking site for tweenyboppers, think.

Quite popular among the young folk, the site lets users interact with other penguins their age and play real-time games. The rules are simple: 1) Be nice to other penguins; 2) Don’t give out personal info; and 3) No inappropriate language. The genius behind Club Penguin: Who can resist making a penguin avatar? They’re so damn cute!

penguin2.jpgSo last night I opened a Club Penguin account (for reporting purposes, obviously). You can sign up for one of four age groups: 8 and under; 9 through 12; 13 through 17; and 18 up (see picture above). Unfortunately, Brink, the user name, was already taken. I had to immediately scratch my plans to hunt down the fake Brink (Rule No. 1 insists on penguin civility and No. 3 warns against profanities) and settle for the name Condi (see pink penguin bustin a move in the middle of the dance floor above). Condilicious ? I’m not joking ? was already taken.

Users can gather “coins” by either playing games with other penguins or exchanging real money for them. These coins can eventually buy you items for, say, your igloo. And it gets better: Your penguin can throw snowballs. There’s an aim and everything.

Within two minutes of landing in the frosty tundra, I made my first friend. The conversation went like this:

Friendly penguin: Hello.
Condi: Hello! How are you?
FP: Good. You?
Condi: I am well, thank you.
FP: You are nice. Are you new?
Condi: Yes I am.
FP: I?m not. Come.
To self: Come? Come where? *Cue creepy music*
FP: Come.

After a moment’s hesitation, I gave in to the weird, snowy world of Club Penguin and followed this waddling blob of pink pixels directly into a connect four game ? and totally got my butt kicked by who I?m sure was a 12 year old. I did, however, earn five coins just for playing.

Why is this cool? Well, millions of kids have already made virtual friends in Club Penguin, and there are millions more on the way. The Internet isn’t just for the older crowd in WoW, Second Life and Facebook anymore. The younger generations are more media savvy than ever. And I thought I was cool for having a MySpace five years ago ? some of these fourth graders probably know html. If kids are being exposed to this type of stuff early on, they’re going to design some pretty kickin games years from now.

Posted March 6, 2007 at 1:50 am by vschnei | Share on Facebook
Categories: social networks

Comments (2)

2 Comments | Add yours

  1. kristin on March 6th, 2007 9:00 pm

    isn’t it a little pervvy, a 22-year-old joining and online community for kids? I’m a little bit skeezed.

  2. kristin on February 13th, 2008 10:39 am

    HA. we have the same name :]
    yeah..
    your a creeper

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