MILLSTONE: New online social network site launched

by Lisa Rich, Special Writer
   MILLSTONE — Bill Nielsen is a typical father, and with that, comes typical fears.
   As the Internet becomes more widely used by youths and adults alike, Mr. Nielsen says he can’t help but worry about what his children are exposed to online.
   Sexual predators?
   Cyber bullies?
   Maybe, even, harassment from other parents.
   But recently, Mr. Nielsen and his wife, Debbie, plus another local family, Gina and Albert Ferro, launched a kid-friendly, online social network that aims to keep kids safe from the dangers posed by traditional chat rooms and loosely monitored sites. The site, www.jerzeytalk.com, has been two years in the making and is gaining momentum and users.
   ”When this idea started, my 7-year-old wanted to join a Myspace account. We were like, ‘no way,’” Mr. Nielsen said. “It’s scary to wonder what your kid could be doing, who they could be talking to. But I feel completely confident and secure with this site.”
   Unlike other popular networking sites that have received criticism regarding monitoring and controls, such as Myspace.com and Facebook, he said, jerzeytalk.com does not allow users to communicate with others outside their age bracket.
   Age groups include those 7-9; 10-13; 14-17; and adults. Moderators are responsible for monitoring the chat groups and messages if complaints are submitted.
   ”I don’t have to worry that when my son turns 10, some 15-year-old will start bullying him online,” Mr. Nielsen said.
   ”If a parent decides to go into a user’s account and we find out, we can go in and close that account down,” he added, while referring to a court case earlier this year involving Lori Drew, a mother in St. Louis who taunted her daughter’s schoolmate, who later committed suicide.
   Before a child or adult can sign up, the user’s driver’s license must be submitted and is run through a background check with the help of Family Watchdog – an Internet organization devoted to keeping families safe online.
   The potential user is also is screened under the national sex offender registry, Mr. Nielsen said.
   ”If anyone curses, it’s blocked out. I know if there’s any bullying, I can go in there and see what went on in the chat room or Instant Messenger,” he added. “It’s great as a parent to know there is a safe place online for our kids.”
   Millstone Schools Superintendent Mary Anne Donahue said she applauds the parents for their efforts to keep children safe online, however the district does not promote any online social sites to students or families.
   ”It is part of the general awareness of Internet safety and trying to keep them safe ourselves,” Ms. Donahue said. “We discourage any of the students from using any of those kind of sites.”
   Every year, the district presents students with the dangers of using the Internet inappropriately. Every school goes through a child assault prevention program, and parents can participate in Internet safety and awareness programs, she added.
   Mr. Nielsen is pretty confident, though, in the site’s security and monitoring.
   Those interested will have to pay a $25 startup fee and $5 per additional user, which covers the cost to have 24/7 monitoring of the site, he said.
   In the future, the group hopes to make jerzeytalk.com free with the help of advertisers.
   ”Right now, we have a little inconvenience fee, but I look at it as ‘what’s your kid’s safety worth?’” he said.
For more information, log onto www.jerzeytalk.org or www.njgardentstate.org.