TL;DR: COPPA is the reason the "official" internet starts at age 13. It’s a 1998 law that was recently overhauled for 2026 to stop apps from using "nudge" tactics, collecting biometric data, and tracking kids across the web. If your kid is under 13, the law is on your side; if they’ve "aged up" (even by lying about their birthday), they’re essentially treated like adults by data brokers.
Quick Links for Safe Starts:
- YouTube Kids (The "walled garden" version of the giant)
- Messenger Kids (COPPA-compliant social-ish features)
- PBS Kids (The gold standard for privacy)
- Zigazoo (The "TikTok for kids" that actually follows the rules)
COPPA stands for the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. It’s the primary reason you can’t just sign up for TikTok or Instagram the second you learn to type.
Passed way back in 1998 (when we were all still waiting for images to load line-by-line), the law mandates that any website or app directed at children under 13—or any site that knows it has users under 13—must get "verifiable parental consent" before collecting, using, or disclosing a child's personal information.
In plain English: Big Tech isn't allowed to treat your 10-year-old like a data-mining goldmine without your permission.
Ever wonder why 13 is the cutoff? It’s not because 13-year-olds are suddenly "mature" or immune to "brain rot" content. It’s purely a legal line in the sand.
For most tech companies, getting "verifiable parental consent" is a massive, expensive pain in the neck. It’s much cheaper for them to just put a "13+" label on the door and say, "Sorry, kids aren't allowed here."
When a kid signs up for Discord or Snapchat and checks the box saying they were born in 2005, the company wipes its hands of COPPA responsibility. They can now track that kid, build a profile on them, and sell their attention to the highest bidder.
The FTC finally realized that the 1998 rules didn't quite cover things like AI, VR headsets, and the "Ohio" memes your kid is watching on repeat. The 2026 updates to COPPA are a big deal because they close some of the sneakiest loopholes:
1. The Death of the "Nudge"
Apps can no longer use "push notifications" or "nudges" to keep kids under 13 on the platform longer unless they have explicit parental consent for that specific feature. If Roblox wants to ping your 11-year-old to tell them their virtual pet is hungry, the law now says that’s a data-collection "engagement" tactic that needs your okay.
2. EdTech is Under the Microscope
For years, schools used "free" apps that were secretly harvesting student data. The 2025 rules strictly limit how companies like Google Classroom or Prodigy can use data. They can use it for "educational purposes," but they can’t turn around and show your kid ads for toys based on their math scores.
3. Biometrics and Avatars
The new rules clarify that "personal information" now includes biometric identifiers (like FaceID or voice prints) and even specific details about a child's avatar if it can be used to track them across different games.
Learn more about how apps track your child's location
We all know what happens. A kid wants to play Fortnite or join a Discord server with their friends, so they just lie about their age.
According to community data, roughly 45% of 10-to-12-year-olds are using at least one app that is officially "13+."
When you allow (or help) your kid to bypass the age gate, you aren't just letting them see more mature content—you are effectively opting them out of federal privacy protections. You are telling the app, "Go ahead, track my kid's IP address, their interests, and their friend groups."
If you have a kid under 13, these are the platforms that are actually doing the work to stay COPPA-compliant and protect your kid's data:
YouTube Kids (Ages 4-12)
Unlike the main YouTube, the Kids version doesn't allow "interest-based" advertising. It also limits the "rabbit hole" effect of the algorithm. Read our guide on YouTube vs. YouTube Kids
Messenger Kids (Ages 6-12)
Meta (Facebook) actually did a decent job here. There are no ads, and parents have to approve every single contact. It’s the "training wheels" for social media that keeps the data-brokers out.
Scratch (Ages 8+)
This coding platform from MIT is a privacy dream. It’s built for kids, doesn't sell data, and focuses on creativity rather than consumption.
Gabb Messenger (Ages 8-13)
If you are looking for a first phone experience, Gabb focuses heavily on the "walled garden" approach where data isn't the product.
It’s easy to think, "Who cares if a company knows my kid likes Skibidi Toilet?"
But here’s why it matters: The data collected on a 10-year-old today builds a profile that follows them into adulthood. It influences the ads they see, the "suggested" content that shapes their worldview, and eventually, it can even impact things like insurance rates or college admissions algorithms (yes, we’re heading there).
COPPA is your "pause button." It gives your kid a few years to exist online without being a permanent data point in a corporate ledger.
Ages 5-9: The Walled Garden Phase
Stick to apps and websites that are explicitly "Made for Kids." If an app doesn't have a clear parental consent flow (usually involving a credit card verification or an email link), it’s probably not COPPA-compliant. Check out our list of the best educational websites for 7-year-olds
Ages 10-12: The "Gray Area"
This is the hardest stage. Their friends are on TikTok. They want to use BeReal. The Screenwise Advice: If you decide to let them on a 13+ app early, do it through a "family link" or parental supervision tool. Most major apps now offer these to help bridge the COPPA gap.
Ages 13+: The Open Internet
Once they hit 13, the training wheels are legally off. This is the time to talk about "digital footprints" and how to check privacy settings.
Ask our chatbot for a 13th birthday digital safety checklist
If you find an app that your kid is using that doesn't ask for an age but feels like it's for kids, be wary.
Red Flags to Watch For:
- Third-party logins: If an app for kids asks them to "Log in with Facebook," it’s a privacy nightmare.
- Behavioral Ads: If your kid sees an ad for something they just searched for on a different device, that app is tracking them across the web (a big COPPA no-no).
- Lack of "Parental Gate": Legitimate kids' apps will usually have a "math problem" or a long-press button that only an adult can do before accessing settings or making purchases.
COPPA isn't just "legal jargon" meant to keep kids off the fun parts of the internet. It’s a shield. In 2026, that shield is stronger than ever, but it only works if we, as parents, don't help our kids throw it away the second they want to join a viral trend.
The "Magic 13" is less about maturity and more about ownership. Until they are 13, you own their data rights. After 13, the tech giants start taking their cut.
- Audit the birthday: Check the settings on your kid's most-used apps. Did they "age themselves up" to 21?
- Use Parental Controls: Use tools like Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time to enforce the "under 13" protections.
- Talk about the "Why": Explain to your kid that the age limit isn't because you don't trust them—it's because you don't trust the apps with their information.