A month after its initial launch, Zigazoo now has 100,000 videos uploaded to and downloaded from its site.
Before developing the application, Zigazoo founder Zak Ringelstein had been worried about the amount of time his children were spending in front of digital devices, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic when everyone was working and studying from home. Thus, he created Zigazoo, which is touted to be "TikTok for kids," according to TechCrunch.
Zigazoo allows children to respond to short video-based exercises by creating videos that they can share with friends. The exercises target kids from preschool to middle school and the topics range from how to create a baking soda volcano to making fractions out of food. The app can be downloaded for free on both iOS and Android devices.
However, Ringelstein says that parents should be the primary users of the app to ensure its privacy. It requires users to accept a friend request to see their content. This is Ringelstein's way to avoid bad actors or potential bullying within the app. Zigazoo also uses an API through SightEngine to regulate the content.
Zigazoo's first users were Ringelstein's kids. He claims the tests were very rewarding as he realized that kids like creating longer videos and watching smaller videos. Thus, Zigazoo was developing the attention span for viewing. The current site user's viewing time is up at 19 minutes and 43 seconds per day.
Zigazoo Known as 'TikTok for Kids' Reaches 100,000 Uploads and Downloads: "Sesame Street" inspired creator
Meanwhile, Ringelstein said he was inspired by the "Sesame Street." Numerous businesses have proven that combining education and entertainment can be fruitful. For generations, "Sesame Street" has managed to entertain and educate millions of children around the world.
"The creators of Sesame Street...used the medium to educate kids and entertain them at the same time," said Ringelstein. "Sesame Street," as described by Vox, is a "bedrock for educational television." It educates children through funny songs and skits, even putting characters to the table with former First Lady Michelle Obama.
While it claims to be the "TikTok" for kids, Zigazoo is competing with the platform where some teachers used the former to discuss their lessons on solar cell systems, experiments, and other topics. Recently, TikTok allowed parents to set restrictions on content, DMs, and screen time for their kids to make it more "kid-friendly."
Unlike passively reading a paragraph from a Google document, Ringelstein said that video-based learning is a more fun way for students to engage actively in an educational activity.
The risks of mixing learning and entertainment
Various risks come when combining education with entertainment. Last March, The New York Times reported about "influencers" whose parents lead their kids to the virtual world, promoting brands and making money from it. There are questions and ethical concerns raised in these behaviors.
Ringelstein is confident, however, that Zigazoo has resolved these issues. "Zigazoo is a not a kid playdate smack dab in the middle of an adult party like YouTube and TikTok," said Ringelstein adding that the app is "tailor-made for kid safety, learning and enjoyment."
Like Facebook, Zigazoo has a "friend" versus "follow" feature, which Ringelstein sees as key to the safety of kids. Unlike TikTok where content is seen by the public in general, Zigazoo requires users' approval to be followed.
Recently, Zigazoo inked its partnership with The American Federation of Teachers (AFT). They will invite K-12 students to submit a Zigazoo video about their past school year's learning experience. AFT says this is a "far better way to sum up learning" compared to taking exams. Also, Ringelstein is launching this summer "Zigazoo Channels." It features major kids' entertainment companies, museums, podcasts, libraries, zoos, and even social media influencers.
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