My Secret Circle review and giveaway


The Pea is a social butterfly-in-training, a social catterpillar, if you will. She'd go on a playdate every afternoon, and a sleepover every weekend, if I let her. Her interest in hanging out is starting to drift online -- she recently asked me whether she could have a Facebook account. Control freak that I am, I don't think I'm ready for that just yet. There are all kinds of spammers, fishers, marketers and crazies out there, and she's only 8!

Enter gaming and entertainment leader, Senario, to the rescue. Today they are launching My Secret Circle, the first-ever secure online social network for girls ages 8-12. Just like regular social networks like Facebook or MySpace, girls can log on, chat, share pictures, post notes, and play games. But get this -- it's completely private and safe from advertising and strangers.

Because My Secret Circle is NOT a public Web site. To enter the network, you have to purchase an access key with a unique code, and your daughter and her friends can connect only by exchanging private codes. But this access key is not just a virtual code, it's also a physical device, like a flash drive, that plugs into your computer's USB drive. So it's invisible to the online world in general. The key stores the virtual code and all the girl's personal information, which further enhances the security of the network.

As a parent, I love the concept, because it allows me to "let go" a bit without really letting go. I can let her network online with some peace of mind, because there's no way some person surfing the web at Starbucks could hack into the network; he or she would have to purchase their own physical access key AND know your daughter's virtual code. And to get that virtual code, your daughter would have to give it to them herself.

We were sent a My Secret Circle access key for The Pea to play with, and let me tell you, the product is really designed to appeal to girls. First of all, the packaging is very Girly with a capital G, with lots of Pink and photos of clique-y looking tweens. The access key is attached to a silver chain with some cute charms, and clips onto a purse or backpack (as modeled by The Pea above). You can also purchase a separate headset and microphone, which lets your daughter safely voice-chat with her friends on the My Secret Circle network. And because, like a telephone, the fun truly begins when you have lots of friends to connect to, My Secret Circle also comes in a BFF pack containing two online access keys, one for you and one for a friend. It's a whole lot of safe, girly fun -- and it's all available for purchase at that girliest of girly stores, Justice.

Stay tuned for my future post on all the cool features My Secret Circle offers and how The Pea is using them..... but for now, we're giving you a chance for your own budding online networker to try it out for herself! Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a My Secret Circle Online Access Key. For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following:

1) Leave a comment on any of my blog posts on Finding Bonggamom (leave a comment here with the link to the post that you commented on).

2) Join any of the other giveaways currently running on Bonggamom Finds (leave a comment here with the name of the other giveaway you joined).

3) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet). Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste:

My Secret Circle giveaway from @bonggafinds http://www.bonggafinds.com/

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on July 20, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on July 21 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

30 Comments, Leave yours here:

Stefanie Hartman on July 6, 2009 at 1:02 PM said...

My daughter Andrea will think this is very fun and exciting. She's all pink.

blessings

fhartman@frontiernet.net

Stefanie Hartman on July 6, 2009 at 1:02 PM said...

follow you on twitter and tweeted id keepsakebaby

http://twitter.com/keepsakebaby/status/2502148213

fhartman@frontiernet.net

Stefanie Hartman on July 6, 2009 at 1:24 PM said...

commented on post -

Staying Up Late for Fireworks

fhartman@frontiernet.net

Stefanie Hartman on July 6, 2009 at 1:24 PM said...

entered Capri Sun giveaway

fhartman@frontiernet.net

Stefanie Hartman on July 6, 2009 at 1:24 PM said...

entered Activeion Pro giveaway

fhartman@frontiernet.net

Terra Heck on July 6, 2009 at 11:51 PM said...

This would be great for my step-daughter. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Terra Heck on July 6, 2009 at 11:53 PM said...

I tweeted about the giveaway.
http://twitter.com/partymix25/status/2510579999

partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Amanda on July 10, 2009 at 11:08 PM said...

I am excited to see something like this secret circle item . My daughter and her friends would just LOVE to have these and spend time networking together safely. I left your link on my blog as well so others can see.

http://amandasfunstuff.blogspot.com/

Unknown on July 14, 2009 at 9:03 PM said...

My 8 year old cousin would go crazy over this! I sure hope I win it sounds absolutely safe and perfect for her. :)

Yessenia said...

What a great sounding idea! This would be great for the girls.

y_nia28(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown on July 16, 2009 at 5:46 PM said...

This would be absolutely perfect for my cousin who is turning 8 at the end of the month. She already loves the computer, so this would just enhance the experience.

Unknown on July 16, 2009 at 5:47 PM said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/IamKeonte/status/2679518576

Unknown on July 16, 2009 at 5:51 PM said...

I commented on another post: http://bonggamom.blogspot.com/2009/07/evolution-of-blogher-card.html

Marianna on July 19, 2009 at 8:19 AM said...

I'd love to give this to my niece! Thanks for the chance to win!

mverno on July 19, 2009 at 8:37 AM said...

tres bien au artist mverno@roadrunner.com

Donna M. Clark on July 19, 2009 at 12:38 PM said...

My Bambi would love this! Thk you for having this giveaway.
litefoot873 (@) hotmail.com

Donna M. Clark on July 19, 2009 at 12:39 PM said...

I tweeted-http://twitter.com/litefoot873/status/2726231908
litefoot873 (@) hotmail.com

blogggggg on July 19, 2009 at 1:54 PM said...

This is such a great idea. Online social networks can be scary places, this is a great alternative! Thanks for the giveaway!

wordsmoveme at gmail dot com

Mom Union on July 19, 2009 at 8:10 PM said...

Katie would be in girlie heaven.
Thanks.
dontaskme22@yahoo.com

Mom Union on July 19, 2009 at 8:11 PM said...

tweet: http://twitter.com/heathersphere/status/2732249055
dontaskme22@yahoo.com

Mom Union on July 19, 2009 at 8:18 PM said...

I entered the Sweets N Treats giveaway.
dontaskme22@yahoo.com

Mom Union on July 19, 2009 at 8:30 PM said...

I posted on The Joys Of Reading On Your Own.
Thanks for the contest and good luck to all.
dontaskme22@yahoo.com

Miranda on July 20, 2009 at 11:42 AM said...

My girls would enjoy this

Adrianna said...

This sounds like the perfect thing for 7 year old girls!

chica_hola12(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown on July 20, 2009 at 5:37 PM said...

I entered the capri giveaway awhile back. You have amazing giveaways.

Kathy P on July 20, 2009 at 7:54 PM said...

Thank you for the AWESOME GIVEAWAY.. Please count me in :)

Kathy P on July 20, 2009 at 7:58 PM said...

http://twitter.com/klp1965/status/2750928512

masonsgranny59 on July 20, 2009 at 11:22 PM said...

This would be great for my neice.

lilyk on July 21, 2009 at 12:01 AM said...

Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

bonggamom on July 21, 2009 at 10:14 AM said...

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered, and congratulations to the winner, kathy pease!

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