If you’re looking for a way to get the kiddies involved in online social networking (assuming that’s something you really want your kids involved in), check out Franktown Rocks, billed as “the world’s first music-driven virtual world for kids.”
Aimed at kids ages 6 to 12 and based in the mythical city of Franktown, the site allows visitors to play music-based games and virtual instruments, record and mix music in a virtual recording studio, make friends, earn and spend virtual money, hear new music artists, and more.

The site launched in May in public beta test mode and now has almost 70,000 registered accounts, with 425,000 visits each month from visitors from over 150 different countries. (To date, the top visitors reside in the U.S.A., the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Brazil and Turkey.)
I know nothing about children’s social networking sites, so back in the spring when I first got word about the site, I had my nephews check it out. They loved it.
So I checked it out this morning, “playing” the acoustic guitar, and you know what? It’s pretty cool. You can actually learn some chords. I even made a little song on the electric guitar. (I have been wanting to take piano lessons. Maybe I can learn here with the kids …)
The parents’ page explains that the site is designed to promote creativity, morality, education, art and music, education and responsibility. Can’t go wrong with that. In fact, Parenting magazine chose it as the recommended website of the month, and Parents magazine called it the “best of the next generation” of junior social networks.
To check out Franktown Rocks, visit www.franktownrocks.com.