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PrintSocial networking online with COGS
Sapulpa residents Shawna Sims and Melinda D. Ryan create a safe — and fun — way for kids to explore friendships online.
When Shawna Sims’ daughter came home wearing a “pass-along bracelet,” a memento passed from friend to friend, it sparked an idea that turned into an award-winning new company.
Concerned about growing Internet safety issues, Sims, who manages the day-to-day affairs and assets of 15 different companies, and her sister, Melinda D. Ryan, a lawyer, used the bracelet concept to develop a safe social-networking Web site for kids, powered in part by charm-filled bracelets they named Cog Togs.
Youngsters trade the Cog Togs — each with its own code — to gain access to the Web site, where they can chat, play games and visit each others’ “rooms.” For parents, that means the young people are visiting with pre-approved Internet friends.
The company, which launched a testing phase expansion of its Web site and product in December 2009, recently placed third in the 2009 Mayor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards.
Cog Togs come in 50 unique designs in 12 colors and two shapes. Some of the more popular designs are peace signs, smiley faces, dragons and guitars. A child can choose either a bracelet or a backpack clip to hold his or her Cogs.
“It’s a personal expression of the kids,” Sims says.
Each clip, bracelet and set of Cogs has its own code that can only be used once. The only way for a child to get a friend’s code is to trade the Cogs.
After buying a set of Cogs and a bracelet or backpack clip, the child can go online to www.cogtogs.com to register the items and set up an account. Online access is granted for one year from the last purchase of Cogs. A starter kit costs $20.
Additionally, the parent will receive an e-mail to confirm the creation of the child’s account. With this setup, parents can monitor their child’s activity while the child interacts with friends.
Each child can create an avatar that is a representation of him or her. The avatars can then interact in the coffee shop chat room.
Cog Togs are not just about having fun playing on the Internet but also learning about safe social networking, Sims says.
“Too many people don’t understand the dangers (of the Internet),” she says.
She says she hopes that Cog Togs will make using the Internet a safer, yet fun, experience for children, and a less worrisome one for parents.
Where to get Cog Togs
Bounce U (8922 S. Memorial Drive)
Kiddlestix (3815 S. Harvard Ave.)
Ribbons in Tulsa (3525 S. Peoria Ave.)
Made in Oklahoma (Promenade Mall, 4107 S. Yale Ave.)
Reeder’s 66 (2406 E. 21st St.)
High Maintenance (14100 S. Hickory St., Glenpool)
Isabella’s (201 E. Dewey Ave., Sapulpa)
By appointment (888-737-3133) at Cog Togs Inc., 16 1/2 N. Park St., Sapulpa
