The agreement prohibits users under 13 from using GitHub's services and states that GitHub will terminate accounts of users determined to be under 13 immediately upon discovery.
This analysis describes what GitHub's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision establishes a minimum age requirement consistent with COPPA obligations and authorizes immediate account termination for underage users, which is operationally relevant for educational institutions and organizations that facilitate student access to GitHub.
Under this clause, users under 13 are not permitted to create or maintain GitHub accounts, and accounts identified as belonging to users under 13 are subject to immediate termination. Educational organizations facilitating student GitHub access should confirm that participating students meet this age threshold.
How other platforms handle this
Our Services are not directed to children under 13. If you learn that anyone younger than 13 has unlawfully provided us with personal data, please contact us at privacy@medium.com.
The Service is intended for general audiences and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child under the age of 13 has provided us with personal information without your cons...
To access and use the Services, you must be at least the age of majority in the state, province, or territory where you live or at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 13, you may not use the Services and you should not be visiting the Sites or using the Services.
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"You must be at least 13 years old to use GitHub. GitHub does not target our Service to children under 13, and we do not permit any Users under 13 on our Service. If we learn of any User under the age of 13, we will terminate that User's account immediately.— Excerpt from GitHub's GitHub Acceptable Use Policies
1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision directly engages the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits the collection of personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. The FTC is the primary enforcement authority for COPPA. GitHub's stated policy of immediate termination of underage accounts reflects a COPPA compliance posture. 2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. Educational institutions and organizations that provision GitHub accounts for students or minors bear responsibility for ensuring compliance with the age requirement. GitHub's enforcement mechanism (termination upon discovery) places the initial compliance obligation on users and organizations, not on GitHub's onboarding verification process. 3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: The 13-year threshold reflects US COPPA requirements. EU and EEA jurisdictions under GDPR Article 8 may require consent from a parent or guardian for users up to age 16 (with member states permitted to set a lower threshold of 13). Organizations operating across jurisdictions should assess whether additional age verification or parental consent mechanisms are required. 4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Educational institutions using GitHub under the GitHub Education program should review their enrollment agreements and confirm age eligibility screening procedures. Organizations provisioning GitHub access for students or junior developers should document age verification workflows. 5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams at educational organizations should confirm that GitHub account provisioning workflows include age verification consistent with COPPA and applicable state laws. Where GitHub is used in K-12 educational contexts, the DOE's FERPA framework may also be relevant depending on how student data is managed.
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This provision establishes a minimum age requirement consistent with COPPA obligations and authorizes immediate account termination for underage users, which is operationally relevant for educational institutions and organizations that facilitate student access to GitHub.
Under this clause, users under 13 are not permitted to create or maintain GitHub accounts, and accounts identified as belonging to users under 13 are subject to immediate termination. Educational organizations facilitating student GitHub access should confirm that participating students meet this age threshold.
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