COPPA is a law that protects kids online by making sure parents know what websites collect about you.
# What COPPA Means & Why Your Parent Says Yes
What Is COPPA?
COPPA gives parents control over what information websites can collect from their kids. COPPA stands for "Children's Online Privacy Protection Act." It's a federal law that imposes specific requirements on operators of websites and online services to protect the privacy of children under 13.
Think of COPPA as a rulebook for websites. It tells websites: "If kids under 13 use your site, you need to ask their parents first before collecting any personal information."
Why Does COPPA Exist?
Back in the 1990s, websites started collecting information about kids without telling parents. 89% of children's websites were taking personal information, and many of those websites were not giving privacy notices. Various websites were collecting personal data from children without parents' actual knowledge or consent.
Parents didn't know this was happening, so Congress created COPPA in 1998. The Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1998 and took effect in April 2000.
What Information Does COPPA Protect?
COPPA protects your personal information. This includes:
Your name
Your email address
Your location
Photos or videos of you
Information about your interests
COPPA details what a website operator must include in a privacy policy, when and how to seek verifiable consent from a parent or guardian, and what responsibilities an operator has to protect children's privacy and safety online, including restrictions on the marketing of those under 13.
An operator must choose a method reasonably designed in light of available technology to ensure that the person giving the consent is the child's parent. An operator is required to obtain verifiable parental consent before any collection, use, or disclosure of personal information from children.
Your parent has to say yes because:
You can't decide alone – Kids your age might not understand how companies use your information
Your parent knows best – Parents can decide what's safe for you
It's the law – Websites must follow COPPA or get in big trouble
What Happens When Your Parent Says Yes?
When your parent gives permission, websites can:
Collect your information
Use it for the service you're using
Keep it safe
The operator must establish and maintain reasonable procedures to protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of personal information collected from children. At a minimum, the operator must establish, implement, and maintain a written information security program.
What If a Website Breaks the Rules?
COPPA is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If a website doesn't follow COPPA, the FTC can fine them a lot of money. In 2019, the FTC hit YouTube with a COPPA fine of $170 million for illegally harvesting children's data and targeting ads at kids without their parents' consent.
Your Privacy Matters
The COPPA was created to give parents more control over the online collection of personal information from their children. When a website asks for your parent's permission, that's COPPA working to keep you safe!
Remember: It's okay to ask your parent questions about what information you're sharing online. Your privacy is important!
