Club Penguin Goes Disney

Thu Aug 2, 2007 3:29PM EDT

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Disney, which is trying to figure out how kids want to spend their time online, has bought Club Penguin, where kids ages 6 to 14, flock every day.

Disney will pay at least $350 million for the site, but the deal could grow to $700 million if profits grow. Club Penguin, where kids sign up and design personal Penguin avatars to roam around, play games, and earn coins, tripled in usage over the past year to 4.7 million unique U.S. visitors in June. Disney would like to take that gem of a site and expand it to an overseas market, while figuring out how Club Penguin does what it does.

Disney will have to tread lightly and restrain from Disneyfying a site which just may be as successful as it is because it does not promote any commercial characters and is not rife with advertising. Kids know when something is being forced upon them as "fun" and what genuine fun is. Sites like Club Penguin and Webkinz have taken off in part because they are another world away from TV and movies.

My 10-year-old loves Disney shows (believe me, the same shows get watched over and over) but she doesn't go looking for her favorite characters online after the TV is off. She heads for Webkinz or Club Penguin. When I told her about the sale, she frowned and said, "Oh no, they better not make it 'Club High School Musical." Then, she added, in her best mock-TV-commercial voice, "Help Troy sled past obstacles and sing his heart out!"

Like I said, kids know when they are being marketed to and when they are having fun. So as long as Disney doesn't tinker too much with Club Penguin, young penguins will keep stopping by.

LINK: Disney acquires Club Penguin for $350 million [AP]

Related: Where the Young Kids Are Online
Club Penguin: A Safe Place for Kids to Social Waddle

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Comments on Parents of Young Online Socializers Have Gift of Time

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  • 1 Posted by danotes2000 on Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:37PM EST Report Abuse

    Even with the 'monitoring' of the chats do you think it is still possible for Internet Bullying to occur? This was a very helpful article.

  • 2 Posted by dory_devlin on Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:53PM EST Report Abuse

    It's possible, but kids know they can report abuse. It's the first thing my youngest showed me when I talked to her about what kinds of things are said on the site. It's a good way learn how to socialize online, and it's a good way for parents to learn along with their kids.

  • 3 Posted by bissellbeck55 on Sun Mar 2, 2008 9:39AM EST Report Abuse

    hello Dory, I have been a frind of yours sice the at 60's and I have a few of your records. I was so nice to see you have a page in the news today! God Bless You! Si ncerely, Dianne Bissell

  • 4 Posted by tylers_hotti on Mon Mar 3, 2008 10:21PM EST Report Abuse

    did you know it's really annoying when people try to monitor their childrens behavior? the reason people get mad and turn to people on the internet is because they want to get away from the nosey parents around the globe. i'm kind of glad that parents care, but they have to let their childrens live a little. their going to have to understand that children have to make their own mistakes. so, i say get off your childrens back and let them live a bit. they're going to have to grow up you can't keep them as your babies forever.

  • 5 Posted by alan_headrick on Tue Apr 8, 2008 4:42AM EDT Report Abuse

    Part of the problem is people having kids then letting them grow up on auto pilot. Then cry when their kids run away or do something stupid don't understand why. The internet is just another example of why parents need to be aware of what their kids are doing. Don't monitor, be on trusting level with your kids and show them how to be careful and don't believe anything your are told or read on the internet. All 3 of mine do just fine on the internet with no worry from me.

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