Lego Life Explained

Lego Life
Type:Social media

Lego Life is the name for a social media app and magazine, both produced by The Lego Group.

App

Development and launch

According to Lego, the idea for Lego Life originated in monitoring how children shared their Lego builds in LEGO Club Magazine's "Cool Creations" section and posted their creations on the company's message boards. Lego Life was developed to transfer this desire to share creations into an online environment.[1] [2] [3]

The app was released for Android and iOS on 31 January 2017. It was initially launched in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, France, Germany, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland. Lego then officially announced that it will be replaced on August 15, 2024, by LEGO Play. This event has sparked numerous posts with the hashtag; #saveLL. Their efforts may of affected the original close date: July 5th, which was moved to the current one.

Usage

Lego Life aims to offer an online version of the physical Lego product. A company named Crisp conducts content moderation for uploaded images before they are published on the site.[4] The app does not offer in-app purchases, however ads for Lego are present within it.[5] If parental consent is obtained, the app unlocks features such as commenting with free text instead of the emoticons offered by default.[6]

Lego Life is used by approximately 9 million children around the world, across 78 countries.[7]

Reception

SAFE.BecauseFamily.org praised the concepts and challenges presented to children, but criticised the merchandising and advertising aspect of the app.[8] Similarly, Common Sense Media praised the child safety functions within the app but also noted that "there's no escape from the commercial nature of this experience".[9]

Magazine

The Lego Life magazine is a quarterly publication that promotes use of Lego products. It is aimed at children between the ages of five and thirteen. Launched in 2017 as the replacement for the Lego Club Magazine, it is produced in hard copy and digital versions.[10]

References

  1. Web site: Perez. Sarah. 31 January 2017. LEGO Life is a new social network where kids can share their creations. 16 November 2020. Tech Crunch.
  2. Web site: LEGO Life launches quiz challenges to promote online safety for children . 7 February 2017 . Lego.com . 8 January 2021 . 10 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210110131108/https://www.lego.com/en-my/aboutus/news/2019/october/safer-internet-day . live .
  3. Web site: The LEGO Group launches new range of activities to help the whole family feel empowered to act against cyberbullying . 16 November 2020 . Lego.com . 2 December 2020 . 10 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210110131117/https://www.lego.com/en-my/aboutus/news/2020/november/build-talk-cyberbullying . live .
  4. Web site: 31 January 2017. Lego Life social network looks amazing but is it safe?. 16 November 2020. Guiding Tech.
  5. Web site: Anderson. Jenny. 31 January 2017. Lego is starting a "safe" social network for children. 16 November 2020. Quartz.
  6. Web site: Verified Parental Consent - Lego Life. 17 November 2020. Lego.
  7. Web site: 16 November 2020. LEGO announces new activities to teach kids about cyberbullying. 17 November 2020. The Financial.
  8. Web site: 7 February 2017. LEGO Life is a Social Network for Your Masterbuilder. 16 November 2020. SAFE.BecauseFamily.org.
  9. Web site: Matte. Christy. LEGO Life - Create, share & discover. 16 November 2020. Common Sense Media.
  10. Web site: 12 November 2020. LEGO Life magazine offers completely free subscriptions. 18 November 2020. Brick Fanatics.
  11. Web site: LEGO Life wins Webby Award and Webby People's Voice Award . 26 April 2018 . Lego.com . 12 August 2020.