A California-based company on Tuesday launched togetherville.com, a new social networking for children below ten years.

Founder Mandeep Dhillon said the site is "the first platform that really integrates young children's ability to use the Web with their grown-ups close by" and that it requires children to use their real identity, unlike other children's virtual worlds.

The free site, with no ads, features children's games, videos and spaces to create and share art.

Parents must be Facebook members to sign up their children for the service, but children's information is never sent to Facebook, the company said.

Users can chat on Togetherville only through phrases that have been approved by the social network. This aims to reduce online abuse and prevent the child from revealing any personal information other than what is already available on the service.

The site also plans to add an "allowance" feature which will enable parents to give children real money to spend on games and other virtual goods.