Frequently Answered Questions
- General
- Verification
- FAQs for Parents/Guardians
- Membership / Fees
- Profile / My Account
- Spheres
- Contests and Rewards
General
Why did you guys launch Yoursphere. Did the world really need another social networking site?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. "Everybody's starting a social networking site, you'll never be as big as Myspace or Facebook". We've heard it all before. But the founder's goal was never ever to be like those guys. She started Yoursphere because she is a mother (of five kids, two of which are teens) concerned about the safety of her own kids. What she discovered in the online communities saddened her. In addition to being "unsafe", she sadly discovered that the status quo for youth to be terribly low, so negative, and such a shame.
So she went for a run and had a vision. She knew it was possible to create a community that was safer than anything else out there and truly reflective of teens today. She knows first hand, teens today are driven, accomplished, smart, talented, passionate and ambitious. They're enthusiasts with unique interests and abilities. She knew it was possible to provide a community that fostered, promoted and encouraged these qualities.
So, to answer the question, yeah, the world needs Yoursphere.
Is Yoursphere a global community?
It is, sort of. Because Yoursphere is so dedicated to the safety of its members, it had to create communities that provided the same level of security. So, for example there are communities at Yoursphere.com that provide verifiable parental consent, member age verification and the registered sex offender check. (Youth in the United States are a part of this community because thank goodness we have the right to know who is a registered sex offender).
Then there are communities that provide verifiable parental consent and member age verification but do not provide the registered sex offender check. Those communities have different Yoursphere addresses, like Yoursphere.co.uk.
Why should I join Yoursphere?
Well, you don't get a fancy "members only" jacket or anything but you do get:
- Uncommon rewards (Check our Rewards Gallery.)
- Monthly contests
- Opportunity for scholarships
- Youth only community. No one over 18 allowed.
- Creeper filtered. (No predators, pornographers, sex offenders or people setting up fake profiles allowed.)
Plus you might like it that we set aside a portion of our net paid advertising revenue of our paid advertising revenue so that we can donate to philanthropies that help children and families, or to schools that need extra money.
How do I become a member?
It's simple! There are two easy ways that only take a few minutes of your parents or guardians' time.
First way (and fastest way):
- Go to www.yoursphere.com with your parent/guardian (or have them go by themselves, whichever is quicker and easier for you).
- Click the "Join Now" button.
- Have your parent/guardian click the "Parents, Go Here!" link.
- You should be a member in less than five minutes.
Second way:
- Go to www.yoursphere.com.
- Click the "Join Now" button.
- Supply the information requested.
- An email will be sent to your parent/guardian. Once they click on the link in the email, they can begin the verification process and you should be a member in less than five minutes.
- You'll get an email that confirms your membership.
Why does my parent or guardian have to be involved for me to become a member?
Well, we can't verify that you are who you say you are, (there is no public data to confirm your identity and age). Only your parent or guardian can verify you are who you say you are AND provide their verified parental consent. If we didn't ask your parent or guardian to be involved (asking them to verify your age and provide their consent, plus allowing us to confirm they are non-sex offenders) we'd end up like all those other sites filled with adults you don't know and creepers.
Plus, remember that the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires all sites with youth under the age of 13 to follow the rules of getting verifiable parental consent.
Why aren't the other social networking sites like Yoursphere implementing the verifiable parental consent required by COPPA?
It remains a mystery to us! You're not supposed to be younger than 14 (or in some cases 13) to be on those sites. Lots of kids lie about their age and sneak onto these sites. Unlike other sites, Yoursphere is for youth only, so we've gotta follow the COPPA rules.
Why are you letting 18 year olds on the site? Legally an 18 year old is an adult.
It'd be a bummer to boot a senior in high school that's 18 off the site. Yoursphere is a site for youth through high school. A lot of seniors are 18.
If you're under 13, you won't be allowed to friend anyone that's over 13 years of age unless they are a sibling. Once you're 13 you can friend anyone you want.
Most teens aren't worried about safety online. They're smart enough to know NOT to meet people in person they've met online and know NOT to give out personal details. Why does Yoursphere care so much about safety?
Look parents care a lot about safety - whether it's online or offline. Safety is safety as far as we're concerned. The founder of the company is a parent so there you go. The sad fact is bad stuff happens everyday to youth online. How many "cases" does there have to be before someone didn't do something meaningful to minimize the risk to youth?!
We're tired of it! Tired of creepers who think they're anonymous online and do mean and hurtful things to others. On Yoursphere we're replacing anonymity with accountability. Community members are accountable for their actions. If anyone breaks our Terms of Use, we can delete them from our community and keep them from coming back.
Why would I leave all my friends on the other social networking sites to join Yoursphere?
No worries! You don't have to leave anybody. The more the merrier!
Invite your friends to Yoursphere or have them come check it out on their own. You might even bump into someone you know! Plus, there's no reason you can't keep both profiles. Lots of people have multiple profiles... not to brag, but you will get a lot more out of a Yoursphere membership than anywhere else!
I think Yoursphere is totally cool. How do I invite my friends?
Super easy, at the bottom of any Yoursphere page, click the "Spread the Word" link.
Membership / Fees
How much does a Yoursphere membership cost?
$4.95 a month, or $39.95 per year.
Why should I pay for Yoursphere when every other social networking site is free?
Major difference! All the other sites have adults. Along with adults come creepers (predators, pornographers, sex offenders and people setting up fake profiles with the intention of hurting others) and usually a whole lot of spam. Your membership fee works to keep them out - totally worth it.
Maybe if you pitch in and do some extra dishes you can get your parents to pay. But, for those who have to fork it out of their own pocket, we made the monthly fee less money than a venti white chocolate frappuccino light blended coffee with an extra shot of espresso, one pump of sugar free raspberry flavoring and whipped cream.
How do I tell my parent/guardian Yoursphere is worth their money?
Parents care about your safety and your future. Tell them a Yoursphere membership gives you opportunities to further your education and, while we can never guarantee anyone's safety 100%, no one - and we mean no one - has higher safety standards than Yoursphere. We've raised the bar significantly.
My parents can't afford the membership fee. Can I get one for free?
While we can't give everyone a free membership, we are giving away a select number of free memberships every year because we know everyone doesn't always have the extra cash. (Your parent/guardian still has to go through the sign up process and provide consent though.)
Send an email to: CustomerService@Yoursphere.com and we'll see what we can do.
What's the parental verification process like? How long does it take? What personal information will you ask parents to provide?
It's simple, painless and takes less than 5 minutes. The questions we ask them are questions they answer all the time. It is private information that identifies who they are, and it's the same type of information they use every day to:
- Get a cell phone.
- Rent an apartment.
- Call the bank for their balance.
- Write a check at a store.
What can I do while I'm waiting for my parent or guardian to provide consent?
You can set up your profile page and play some fun games, but we can't let you into the community until you've officially become a member with a parent's verifiable consent.
What happens if my parent doesn't pass the verification process, what do we do?
Don't freak. There's probably just some sign up glitch.
There are lots of options available to help your parent/guardian complete the verification process.
First, you'll be given the chance during the online verification process by NetIDme to re-confirm the data you provided online if there wasn't an initial match.
If further data is required, you'll receive an email from NetIDme, and they'll ask you to complete the verification process either over the phone, or via fax. They'll ask you to call either:
- 415-508-4172
- 347-404-5079
NetIDme Customer Service representatives will be available to answer the phone 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CST Saturday and Sunday.
If you choose not to call, you may fax the required data to: 800-420-1194.
Will parents have access to the Yoursphere network?
No way, Jose.
There will be no secret snooping parent access to the site.
If you are under 13, the law requires us to let your parents have the option to see what you've posted. They don't get to see this by logging into Yoursphere - because remember, they can't be members. They see only the postings by you, if they choose to, where they manage the credit card and account stuff. Not by looking in the community.
If you're 13 or older, your parents see ONLY what you want them to see if you show them anything at all.
Tip for Dealing with Parents: When parents know what's going on they tend not to be suspicious, snoopy or up in your business. There's lots of cool stuff in the spheres, so think about the upside of showing them what's going on.
Are you going to tell my parents about the pictures I post anywhere on the site?
No. But what if your friend shows their parent and what you've posted isn't cool with your friend's parent so that parent calls your parent.... you know how it goes.
Tip: Once you click you can't change your mind! Remember what you post is out there for all kinds of people to see and what you post online never, ever really goes away. So, be smart and don't make the mistake of posting a picture that you know would get you busted (or just cause embarrassment) if an adult or the wrong person saw it. Plus remember, we'll actually pull it down. Yoursphere isn't the place to digitally tattoo yourself. Consider the possibilities.
If my parent cancels my membership, or forgets to pay, do you guys delete my profile and everything I've created on Yoursphere?
No. We know parents get busy and can't always keep up on stuff. We'll keep your account and postings up until you come back.
How does a brand or band get to be on Yoursphere?
Call us, or send an email request to: EngagementTeam@Yoursphere.com
Profile / My Account
I lost my password, what do I do?
We'll send out the official Yoursphere search party to find it! Actually all you really have to do is go to the sign in link, and right there it says Request New Password.
How do I change my username, email address or password?
On your homepage, go to "Edit My Profile". You can make changes from there. Just be sure you really want to be called "Gigglepants McGee" before you click submit.
How do I change my default picture?
Again, on your homepage, go to "Edit My Profile". You can upload a new photo right here. Keep in mind that this picture is visible to all Yoursphere members, so you may want to think twice before posting that naked baby photo.
How do I make my profile public/private?
Your profile is automatically private. After accepting a friend, they can see everything in your profile you've decided to share.
How do I add photos?
On your homepage, click the "Upload an Image" button. You will be directed to an image upload page. You can name, tag and write descriptions for your photos here.
How do I add video?
Youtube. Why reinvent the wheel? We love Youtube. (www.youtube.com).
What's a Digital Tattoo?
A Digital Tattoo is a photo or video shared online that never ever, ever, ever really goes away. Taking that party picture might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but if it's something you wouldn't want your friends to pass around, or share with their friends, who then share with their parents (and you get embarrassed or busted), think about NOT tattooing yourself.
How do I delete comments on my profile page?
That's an easy one. First click the delete button below the comment. Then confirm that you really, really want to delete it on the next page that pops us. That's it.
By the way, if you delete a comment, then all comments about that comment get deleted too.
How do I delete a person from my friends list?
Go to your friend's profile page. Then just click the link to remove.
If I decline a friend request, will that person find out?
We won't tell if you won't tell.
Spheres
How do I join a sphere that I'm interested in?
First you will be asked to provide a strand of your hair for DNA sampling.
No, we're not serious.
Just go to the spheres homepage and select the sphere you would like to join. Click the "Join" button on the top of the page.
Can I join any sphere I want?
Of course! Join away.
What if I want to check out what's going on in a sphere, but I'm not a member?
You can "window shop" through all the spheres by checking out the home pages. We'll let you "try before you buy" or get an idea of what the individual spheres are all about before you join. No commitment needed.
Contests and Rewards
How do I get credits?
Share. Comment. Vote. Post.
Just participate in the community and, through the magic of math, our algorithms figure out your credits.
Do I ever stop accruing credits?
No, as long as you remain an active community member.
BUT, you have to spend them. We don't let you keep rolling them over and over and over.
My friend and I have been members for the same amount of time and they have more credits than me. What's up with that?
It's probably because we like them more* OR because they are more actively involved in the community. We reward all members equally based on their participation, so find out what they've been doing.
*This is not true, we definitely like YOU more!
How long is it going to take me to earn credits to get the cool stuff you're giving away?
It is longer than an episode of "The Simpsons" but shorter than a school year. The time frame is really up to you. It depends on how much you participate in the community. There are some complicated algorithms that figure it out, but if you're a contributor in the community you'll see your points accumulating and, in time you will walk away with cool stuff. Visit the Rewards Gallery.
Is there any fee for me to get free stuff with my credits?
No.
Will you have more stuff for me to get with my credits than what you're offering right now?
The gallery rewards are constantly changing and we are always looking for more cool stuff! Let us know what things you'd like to see and we'll see what we can do.
Do I have to be a Yoursphere member to enter your contests?
Yes.
What are the rules for your contests?
Depends on the contest. Every contest has a rules page. Click on the contest link for specifics.
What if I win a contest, will I have to pay anything to get my prize?
It wouldn't be a prize if you had to pay for it! But, if your prize is worth over $600, we're required by law to have your parents get a 1099 form. It's for tax purposes, but that doesn't cost you anything.
I have a great idea for a contest in one of the spheres, how do I tell you about my idea?
Explain your idea in the "YS Feedback" box provided on your homepage. Tell us what you'd like to see on Yoursphere and we'll get back to you.
How can I get a scholarship?
Participate in one of our scholarship opportunities. We're donating a portion of each paid membership fee (as well as inviting companies to contribute) to our Create Your Future fund, so we'll have lots of money and opportunities for you to potentially earn one.
Why are you giving money away?
It's simple, we care about others and we learned a long time ago that sharing is good. Plus, we've got a big mission statement, and one of our goals is to use a portion of our revenue to make a difference in the lives of others in need.
I've got a philanthropy that I'd like to see money go towards. Can Yoursphere help?
Possibly. Send an email to our philanthropy team at: Philanthropies@Yoursphere.com
Safety
What's a creeper?
A creeper is a predator, pornographer, sex offender, or someone setting up a fake profile with the intention of hurting someone in the community.
What should I do if I think there is a creeper on the site?
Tell us! We provide you tools and links within the community to report creeper behavior. You also can:
- Have your parent/guardian call us: 888-905-9898
- Send us an email: SafetyTeam@Yoursphere.com
- Tell a parent, guardian, or teacher and ask them to contact the police.
What happens if we find out someone on the site is a creeper?
We tar and feather them.
Haha, just kidding! We delete them and ban them from Yoursphere for eternity. We also turn over their information to the appropriate authorities.
How do I report creeper behavior?
Use any of the tools we provide within the community. Links, flags, feedback areas.
What should I do if I find something inappropriate posted on Yoursphere?
Under picture and videos members post, there's a flag that says: Flag this content as inappropriate or offensive. Click it.
Or capture the URL, and send it in email to our Community Standards Team and they'll investigate: CommunityStandardsTeam@Yoursphere.com.