FaceChipz™ is a social networking website that started in November of 2009, and was created just for tweens (8-13 years old) by concerned parents, who were wondering when and where their children were going on the Internet. The site is unique in the regard that tweens sign up for it with their parents, and the social networking aspect of the site is done so in real life with "chips" that are similar in shape and size to casino chips, or Pokemon chips. The concept is similar to Webkinz in the regard that the site is activated with codes that are placed on the chips. The chips come in various sizes, shapes, and colors.
History
FaceChipz™ was created by parents who cared about their children's Web surfing habits, and saw a need for a social networking site for children who were not quite ready for mainstream social networking sites, yet were ready for a "training wheels" social network, one just for tweens. FaceChipz is a registered trademark of Big W Productions, Inc., and is a California corporation located in the United States of America. Its toys are known as "friendship tokens" and distributed by Hooga Loo™ LLC, a Delaware corporation, also located in the United States of America.
Community and Culture
The site is built up of a community of tweenagers, or those who are not quite ready to join social networking sites, yet are ready for FaceChipz, which is for the 8-13 year old market. The site is similar to Webkinz in the way that a coded item is used to connect with the site, yet different in the regard that it deals with a social networking aspect that links children together with each other in the real life through trading friendship tokens. Other such social networking sites for tweens include Stardoll, Whyville, Allykatzz, and Yamod.
