Just in time for summer, Hschooler.net has launched an instant messaging capability for its members that is completely controlled by parents and with all sessions visible to parents.

Contact:  Russ McGuire, Christian Homeshcool Network, 913-526-1775, russ.mcguire@gmail.com

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 11, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Hschooler.net is an online social network that meets the unique desires of Christian parents while providing a fun and safe environment for Christian kids.  By upgrading to a family account, members are able to use all of the available tools and parents are able to control their kids' access to the site.  Hschooler.net has just launched a new tool, only available to family account members, which provides instant messaging between Hschooler members.

Hschooler.net uniquely addresses parents' concerns with safety and content.

The core guiding principle behind Hschooler.net is to give parents complete control and visibility into their family's activities.  Hschooler.net enables parents to direct what their children can use on the site and with whom they can connect and share content, and provides parents with visibility into their children's activities. 

The new "Chat" tool closely follows this principle.  Chat isn't available to an Hschooler.net member until a parent in their family enables it.  The parent also sets the boundaries for who can instant message with each family member.  Choices include parents only, family members only, family and trusted friends only, or all friends.  Parents also have visibility into every chat session each member of their family has participated in, including ones that are currently active.

"Chat has been the feature most requested by Hschooler.net members," Kevin McGuire, head of product development for Hschooler.net, shares. "However, we haven't been willing to add this feature without first building in safeguards against the very real concerns that parents have about chat and instant messaging."

Hschooler.net's Chat feature is rich, but intentionally limited.

The Hschooler.net Chat feature is accessed from the new "chat bar" at the bottom of the member's Hschooler screen.  Any member can pull up a list of all their friends.  For any friend with whom they are allowed to chat (as determined by this member's parents and the parents of their friends), they see the friend's status, and if online, they can open a one-on-one live "instant messaging" session.  A new session tab will flash in the chat bar for both members.  They can then type messages back and forth to each other, as each one hits "enter," the new message appears on their friend's screen.  Either friend can invite an additional friend (if allowed for both members) to join the conversation.  Any Hschooler.net member with Chat enabled can have multiple active sessions with different friends open.

While this is a rich set of features, specific common chat capabilities have been intentionally left out for the safety of Hschooler.net member families.  There are no "chat rooms" where strangers can meet and carry on live conversations.  It isn't possible for an Hschooler.net member to be chat connected with someone they don't know.  Photos and video can't be shared within a chat session.  And the common concept that chat discussions "vanish" when closed is not supported -- all chat sessions are kept and are visible to parents.

"When developing for Hschooler.net, we always have to find the perfect mix of what will be fun to use and also provide the safety that Christian families must demand," says Brian Jacobson, head of software development for Hschooler.net. 

Hschooler.net provides more fun and games for the summer.

In addition to Chat, Hschooler.net has connected with Arcademic Skill Builders to feature online educational video games within Hschooler.net. If enabled by parents, Hschooler.net members can easily access fun flash-based video games that help kids practice basic math, language arts, vocabulary, and thinking skills.
 
"We are continuing to enhance Hschooler.net, through development and partnerships, to fulfill our mission of connecting families with the people, resources, and tools to train up young men and women to the Glory of God," said Austin Jacobson, head of business development for the site.
 
"We applaud Hschooler.net's focus on online safety and parental control," says David Scherrer, Arcademic's program director. "We are pleased Hschooler.net members have access to fun educational games."