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Lesson 11 min 20 XP

Children's Online Privacy

How laws attempt to protect children's data and safety online, from COPPA to age verification debates.

Protecting Children Online

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), enacted in the US in 1998, was one of the first laws addressing children's digital privacy. It requires websites and apps directed at children under 13 to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal data. COPPA's impact is visible in the age gates on virtually every social media platform: the minimum age of 13 exists because of this law, not because of any developmental science.

The limitation of COPPA is obvious: children lie about their age, and platforms have little incentive to verify. A 2021 study found that nearly 40 percent of American children under 13 use social media despite age requirements. The law has not kept pace with the reality of children's internet use, which now begins in early childhood through tablets, smart speakers, and connected toys that collect voice data, location, and behavioral patterns.