Kids and social networks aren’t exactly a happy marriage. In fact, most parents I know shield their kids under 13 from being connected much at all.
What if there was a magic world where kids could share Lego ideas and building suggestions, and safely collaborate on new projects, like Minecraft? What if kids could end up forming an ever-evolving living database on new Lego ideas?
Lego Life, launching today, isn’t that. But it’s something in the middle, maybe: a fledgling Lego social network for kids. What that means is that it’s an app for kids to share Lego ideas (in the form of photos), try Lego quizzes, and participate in Lego challenges. But it’s also an attempt to make a safe kid place in online Lego-land. Making this social network into a truly safe and moderated place is a challenge Lego says it’s ready to tackle.
Lego Life has been available in beta in the UK since the end of 2016, but arrives today as an app for people to download and try for free. I got to look at it briefly in beta form at the CNET office, and it looks a bit like Pinterest for Lego fans.
What a typical day in Lego Life will look like.
Designed for kids between 8 and 12, the app serves up photos (which can be submitted from other users), plus Lego-created videos and challenges that fit into themes. Kids can search for their interests via hashtag categories that Lego generates. Fans will be able to share photos of their creations as well as join in on Lego challenges each week that will be judged by Lego-side moderators (make something orange with Lego bricks, for instance).
