What Is COPPA and What It Means for Kids
Short answer
COPPA, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, is a US law that protects children under 13 by requiring websites and apps to get parental consent before collecting their personal information. It gives parents control over their child’s online privacy and helps keep kids safer when using digital services.
What Is COPPA and Why Was It Created?
COPPA stands for the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. This federal law was created to protect the privacy of children under the age of 13 when they use the internet. Before COPPA existed, many websites and apps collected personal information from children without their parents knowing, which could lead to risks like unwanted advertising, identity theft, or misuse of data.
Under COPPA, websites and online services that target children or know they are collecting data from kids under 13 must follow strict rules. These rules include:
- Getting verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information.
- Clearly explaining what data will be collected and how it will be used.
- Giving parents the ability to review and delete their child’s information.
The law applies to many online platforms, such as games, educational apps, social media, and streaming sites. Its main purpose is to protect children’s privacy online and let parents decide what information can be shared.
How Does COPPA Work? A Simple Example for Parents
To see how COPPA functions, imagine your 10-year-old wants to use a new game app that requires creating an account. Here’s how the process works under COPPA:
- Your child starts signing up and enters their name and email.
- Before the app collects this information, it sends you a request for parental consent. This might come as an email or a message asking you to confirm.
- The message could say: “Your child wants to create an account that requires sharing their name and email. Please confirm if you approve this.”
- You can reply or click a button to give or deny consent.
- If you approve, the app collects only the necessary information and won’t share it with advertisers without your permission.
- If you say no, the app must either limit your child’s access or block features that need personal data.
This process ensures that you control your child’s personal information and that apps must get your permission before collecting it.
Why Does COPPA Matter to Parents and Guardians?
COPPA is important because children often do not understand the risks of sharing personal information online. As a parent or guardian, you can:
- Control what your child shares: You decide which apps or websites can collect data about your child.
- Limit advertising and tracking: By restricting data collection, your child is less likely to see targeted ads or be tracked online.
- Protect your child’s identity: Preventing unnecessary data collection reduces risks like identity theft.
- Teach good privacy habits: COPPA encourages conversations about online safety and privacy with your child.
For example, if your child wants to use a location-based app, COPPA requires the company to ask for your permission before collecting their location. You can then decide if sharing this information is safe or necessary.
What Are Common Terms People Confuse With COPPA?
Several privacy laws and terms relate to children’s data but differ from COPPA. Here is how to tell them apart:
| Term | What It Means | How It Differs from COPPA |
|---|---|---|
| FERPA | Protects students’ educational records | Focuses on school records, not general online data |
| GDPR-K | European privacy law for children’s data | Applies only in the European Union, not the US |
| Children’s Privacy | General idea of protecting kids’ personal info | COPPA is a specific US law about online data |
| Parental Controls | Tools parents use to limit kids’ internet access | Technology features, not legal requirements |
Knowing these differences helps you focus on how COPPA applies to protecting your child’s online privacy.
What Should Parents Do to Protect Their Kids Under COPPA?
Parents can take several clear steps to support their child’s online privacy under COPPA:
- Review privacy policies carefully: Before letting your child use an app or website, read its privacy policy. Look for mentions of COPPA compliance or parental consent procedures.
- Give consent only to trusted services: Approve data collection only for apps or sites you believe handle your child’s information responsibly.
- Have open talks about privacy: Use simple phrases, for example: “Never share your full name, address, or phone number online without asking me first.”
- Use parental control settings: Many devices and apps offer parental controls to restrict what your child can access and share.
- Regularly check permissions: Every few months, review which apps have your consent and revoke permissions if necessary.
For instance, if your child wants to try a new messaging app, first read its privacy policy. If it doesn’t clearly explain how it protects children’s data or ask for your consent, consider choosing a different app. Then, explain to your child why protecting personal info is important.
How Can Parents Recognize If a Website or App Follows COPPA?
To tell whether a site or app follows COPPA rules, watch for these signs:
- Parental consent requests: The app asks you for permission before collecting your child’s information.
- Clear privacy policy: The site explains which data it collects and how it uses and protects it.
- Options to manage data: You can see, correct, or delete your child’s information.
- Limited data collected: Only what’s necessary for the service is gathered.
- No sharing without permission: The company doesn’t share your child’s data with advertisers or third parties without your consent.
If you don’t see these protections, it’s safer to avoid letting your child use that app or website.
Where Can Parents Learn More About COPPA and Kids’ Online Privacy?
Parents can find more detailed information and helpful tools by:
- Reading articles such as What Is the COPPA Age Limit? and What Parents Should Know About COPPA for clear explanations.
- Visiting official government sites like the Federal Trade Commission’s COPPA page for updated rules and advice.
- Contacting legal aid organizations if you believe a COPPA violation has occurred or if you want guidance on protecting your child’s rights.
- Having regular conversations with your child about online privacy and safety topics.
These resources provide practical support for helping your child stay safe and private online.
Frequently asked questions
Can my child use social media if they are under 13 under COPPA?
Most social media platforms prohibit users under 13 because they do not collect parental consent as COPPA requires. Parents should check each platform’s age policy before allowing their child to join.
What kinds of information does COPPA protect?
COPPA protects personal details like full name, address, phone number, email, photos, videos, geolocation, and other information that can identify a child.
How do I report a company that violates COPPA?
You can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission through their website if you think a company is collecting your child’s data without proper parental consent.
Does COPPA protect teenagers aged 13 and up?
No, COPPA protections only cover children under 13. Teenagers have different privacy protections, often guided by other laws or platform policies.
What if my child enters a false age on a website?
Some children may lie about their age to access sites restricted by COPPA. Parents should monitor usage and use parental controls to help prevent this behavior.