COPPA is a law that protects kids online by making sure parents know what info websites collect about them.
# What is COPPA? Why Your Parent Must Say Yes
What Does COPPA Mean?
COPPA stands for the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. It's a law that protects kids like you who use the internet. Think of it like a rule that says: "Websites, you have to ask parents before collecting information about kids!"
COPPA became a real law on April 21, 2000, and it protects children under 13 years old. That means if you're 12 or younger, this law is watching out for you.
Why Do We Need COPPA?
Back in the 1990s, websites were collecting personal data from children without parents knowing about it or saying yes. Companies were trying to sell things to kids without their parents' permission. That wasn't fair!
Research showed that children didn't understand the dangers of sharing personal information online. So Congress decided to create COPPA to keep kids safe.
What Information Does COPPA Protect?
COPPA protects lots of different information about you. This includes:
Your home address or where you spend time, including street names and city names
Your photos, videos, or voice recordings
Your online usernames or profile information
Your real name and email address
Information about where you are (geolocation information)
Why Does Your Parent Have to Say Yes?
This is the most important part! COPPA gives parents control over what information websites can collect from their kids. It makes it unlawful for websites to collect personal information from children under 13 without getting the parent's permission first.
When you want to sign up for a website or app that collects your information, the website must use a method to make sure the person giving permission is really your parent. Your parent might need to:
Sign a form and send it back by mail or email
Use a credit card to verify they're a real parent
Call a phone number to talk to someone
This proves that your parent actually knows what's happening and agrees to it.
What Rights Do Parents Have?
Parents can review information collected about their kids, ask for it to be deleted, and withdraw permission at any time. Your parent is in charge!
What Happens If Websites Break the Rules?
In 2019, YouTube had to pay a $170 million fine for illegally collecting kids' data and showing ads without parents' permission. That's a LOT of money! The FTC and State Attorneys General enforce COPPA, which means they can punish companies that don't follow the rules.
How Can You Stay Safe?
Even with COPPA protecting you, it's smart to:
Always ask your parent before signing up for websites or apps
Never share personal information without your parent's permission
Tell your parent if a website asks for information that seems strange
Remember: real friends don't need your address or phone number
The Bottom Line
COPPA is like a superhero protecting kids online! The main goal is to place parents in control over what information is collected from their young children online. Your parent saying "yes" means they've checked out the website and decided it's okay for you to use it. That's a good thing!
[Federal Trade Commission - COPPA Rule](https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa)
[Electronic Privacy Information Center - Children's Privacy](https://epic.org/issues/data-protection/childrens-privacy/)
[TrustArc - COPPA FAQ](https://trustarc.com/resource/coppa-protecting-childrens-privacy-online/)
[Texas Attorney General - COPPA](https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint/consumer-privacy-rights/childrens-online-privacy-protection-act)
