Friends & Family Invitation System

A safe, social, and scalable way to grow the Virtual Mall community.

1. Invitation Methods

• Email Invitations → Users can send a branded, cinematic invitation (like your elegant “You Are Cordially Invited” cards) directly from their account.
• Social Media Share Links → Pre‑formatted posts with mall imagery and “Join Me at the Virtual Mall of America” call‑to‑action.
• Custom Invite Codes → Each user gets a unique code they can share anywhere; recipients enter it at sign‑up to connect instantly.

2. Parental Control & Age Verification

• Age Gate at Sign‑Up → Users under 18 are automatically flagged for parental approval.
• Parent Dashboard→ Parents can:
  • Approve or deny invitations sent to their child
  • Set allowed zones (e.g., no access to certain lounges or events)
  • Monitor friend lists and in‑mall activity logs
• Verified Consent Process → Email or SMS verification for parents before a youth account is activated.

3. Youth Safety Parameters

• Tiered Access Levels:
  • 15–17 → Expanded access but with chat moderation and content filters
  • Under 15 → Limited zones, no unapproved friend requests, curated events only
• Good Character Merits → Youth accounts can earn “Merit Badges” for positive behavior, helpfulness, and participation in safe community events.
• Safety Reminders → Periodic in‑mall prompts about respectful behavior and online safety.

4. Viral Growth with Built‑In Trust

• “Join Me” Links → When clicked, these open a cinematic landing page showing the inviter’s avatar waving or standing in their favorite zone.
• Group Onboarding → Friends who join together can start in the same zone for a shared first experience.
• Family Bundles → Parents can create linked accounts for multiple children in one approval flow.