Knuddels is an Internet side, which essentially offers a Internet Chat system. In order to use the system, it requires a registration and the choice of a firm pitch name. To end of 2004 approx. 1.5 million members were announced. Knuddels sees itself as a Flirtcommunity, their Marktgebiet is predominantly all German-speaking countries.

The Chatsystem which is based on the programming language Java is an self-development. Within the offer one - beside Chatten - can participate in plays and competitions. Beyond that a forum and a photo gallery are available. Two until three times in the year is organized a Chattertreffen, in which all interested members can participate. Up to 250 visitors celebrate then a large celebration and can so their Chatfreunde in reality to know learn.

The users of the offer are in extra large majority children and young people in the age until 17 years (61%). Compared with other Flirtcommunities in the Internet Knuddels possesses a large portion of female users (56%). In February 2006 Knuddels had 232 million PAGE Impressions.

Emergence and career/development

In the summer 1999 the idea developed to create this side. The project was then cared for and developed of three students of the University of Karlsruhe (TH): Holger Kujath (idea and Chatsystem), Mathias Retzlaff (Chatclient, photo gallery and homepage) and Mirko bunch (Design). In September 2002 the company became Knuddels.com GmbH & CO. Kg with Kujath and Retzlaff as managing directors based, who now operator of the side is.

In the spring 2002 it was selected by CAMPUS in the Cyberforum for the CAMPUS promotion. To 04.12.2002 Knuddels the NEO Award got on the Netnight in Stuttgart for the "“most popular Internet side"” in a Galasendung lent.

According to operator data since the establishment already some couples over the side were; also children already developed from these relations. Success principle is above all that with Knuddels a family climate is maintained; the members identify themselves very strongly with the side.

In order to avoid and little profit make fees for Knuddels, the responsible persons furnished to the Knuddels Shop. In the Knuddels Shop one can buy fan articles, like e.g. T-Shirts, Mousepads or Polos with Knuddels Logo. In addition one receives still completely special smiley for the Chat, which one can exchange among themselves.

This Chat particularly is among young people much likes. In the meantime there is its own Channel for nearly each city with at least 40,000 inhabitants at least.

The Chatsystem

The Chatsystem of Knuddels differs from other systems partially substantially, why Knuddels - as recognizable from the high user numbers - has many friends, in addition, some opponents (see section criticism). A characteristic from Knuddels e.g. is that one can kiss with Knuddels Chatpartner virtually; the number of received virtual kisses is logged as "“Knutschflecken"” and is observable for all (the record is with approx. 7.328.000 Knutschflecken).

The users can receive by activity in the Chat increasingly more privileges: At the beginning one is a regular member. If one spent some time with Knuddels, one becomes the Family member. Now one has the possibility of putting on homepage with Knuddels one can a photo high-load, had a guest book, can a virtual heart assigned and much more besides. As a Family member one can serve also as Mentor, in order to introduce again announced Chatter to the Chat. But one can receive points and starting from a certain score even special smiley. This Mentorpunkte is indicated as so-called honor in the profile. Chattet one as a Family member now more frequently, one ascends to the Stammchatter. Now one has the possibility of assigning virtual roses of selecting a favourite Channel within Knuddels and of selecting in its favourite Channel so-called Channelmoderatoren, which provide in the Channel for right and order. Trunk Chatter can be able to be set up for the Channelmoderatoren choice. Each trunk Chatter in the Channel can co-ordinate then, which of the candidates becomes Channelmoderator. If one was four times Channelmoderator (8 months), one can be able to be set up also for the choice to the Admin, which provides in the entire Chat for right and order.

Many administrative tasks in on-line Community do not become from the operator, but settles of this democratically selected Admins, which are completely normal members of the side. This is one of the reasons, why the members identify themselves very strongly with the Community.

Protection of children and young people

Since mainly a Chatsystem used by children and young people is frequented also by one strives as follows with Knuddels around the protection of children and young people:

• A honorary protection of children and young people team controls which are particularly strongly frequented by children and young people.

• Discussions between adults and children are supervised over a word filter. As soon as youth-endangering contents are discovered, discussions between these two Chattern are blocked.

• Newly registered Chatteilnehmer under 15 years must after two hours in the Chat a protection of children and young people test placing, which contains questions about personal data, anonymity, communication with parents, meetings in the genuine life, annoyance and Chatfunktion for ignoring certain persons. If the test is not existed, one cannot be accepted to the Knuddels Family, but weiterchatten nevertheless.

• The photos, which can publish Chatter in their profile, are examined before the supply by a control team, with persons under age of two independently working control teams.

• A protection of children and young people representative (lawyer) is attainable over a form for on-line.

• Co-operation with prosecution authorities

• The Chat Tutorial and some sides of the Knuddels assistance offer information for children, young people and educate-entitled to the topic.

Criticism at the Chatsystem

Although Knuddels, particularly with young people, is very popular, the large Chatsystem in addition, many opponents have. Points of criticism are among other things:

• Knuddels makes an immense number available of Chatbefehlen and macros. In some Channels meaningful communication often yields the mutual use of Chatbefehlen.

• The popularity and personal power within this system depend to a large extent on on-line time. In addition, instead of making only one communication possibility available, which the actual sense of a Chats is, nearly already a second life simulated. The craze danger of Knuddels is much higher therefore than with other Chats. In addition also the Mentorenprogramm contributes, which is to integrate beginners as fast as possible into the Community.

• With the choice of the so-called Channelmoderatoren there is no age limit. The only two qualifications, of those requires, in order to become moderator, are a long residence time in the Channel and popularity with other Stammchattern. The consequence is that partially in the Chat are to provide for right and order.

• In Channels, which are moderated strongly and therefore also nearly only by persons this age group entered by persons under a certain age, visible monitoring hardly takes place by adults.

Note: (Self) a test about Chatsucht is to be found in the section "“Related links"”.

Related links

• Chat on knuddels.de
• The Knuddels forum
• Web page of the Knuddels Jugendschutzteams
• Web page anti- Phishing team, collects messages over password Phishing sides
• Chatsucht examine
• NEO Award

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