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Teen Second Life

Teen Second Life at a Glance

• In short: A user-generated 3D world created by teenagers for teenagers.
• URL: http://teen.secondlife.com
• Maintained by: Linden Lab since June 2003
• Price: Free basic accounts. Premium accounts are $9.95, which allows one to own land on which you can build upon.
• Teen Second Life system requirements
• Platforms supported: Windows, Mac

Teen Second Life Overview

Teen Second Life is a 3D online virtual world, an “international gathering place for teens 13-17 to make friends and to play, learn and create.” To promote a safer environment for teen participants, only teenagers of this age range are allowed to participate in the virtual world (adults must use the regular version of Second Life). Because Teen Second Life is on located a separate “grid” from the regular Second Life, it is physically impossible for registered teens and adults to transfer from grid to grid. Other than the Linden Liasons (Linden Lab’s staff), all other residents are teenagers, or on occasion, teachers for various educational projects. Educators may also purchase discounted private islands for class purposes.

ownloading the software and creating a basic account is free. Second Life features an object oriented scripting language that allows virtually anything to be built. In this way, it is described as a 3D online virtual world that is “imagined, created, and owned by its residents.” Residents can socialize, meet other teenagers from around the world, participate in social events and activities, and design and create items and services. There is much to explore and create in this virtual environment filled with user-created content.

Strong language, nudity, and other adult content are prohibited in the teen grid. The virtual currency in Second Life is the Linden Dollar. The exchange rate of Linden Dollars to US Dollars is generally about $260-$300 Linden Dollars per US Dollar.

Educational Uses of Teen Second Life

• Global Kids - Global Kids Island, run by a nonprofit organization based in New York, is a place for teen SL residents to learn about important social and world issues.
• British Council Isle - A project to create a 3D virtual self-access center for English learners, and to provide an engaging intercultural space for English language learners and native speaking teens to meet and practice speaking English.

Teen Second Life Screenshots

Second Life Resources (Note: we are not responsible for the content on these external pages)

• SimTeach Wiki - Linden Lab’s official resource for educators in Teen Second Life.