GitHub prohibits users under 13 from creating accounts. If GitHub discovers an account belongs to someone under 13, the account will be terminated immediately.
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
The under-13 prohibition reflects COPPA compliance obligations. Account termination without prior notice applies to underage accounts, which means any content, repositories, or project history associated with the account would become inaccessible immediately.
GitHub's updated Terms of Service now include an explicit section governing AI features, including Copilot. The new section establishes specific contractual terms for how user data may be collected, used, and retained for developing and improving AI and machine learning models, and identifies what controls are available to users. The practical effect is that AI-related data practices are now consolidated under dedicated contractual language rather than dispersed across general service terms.
View change record →GitHub's Terms of Service update on April 19, 2026 involved substantial revisions across 54 sentences, with 40 sentences removed and 4 added. The extent of change suggests modifications to core service provisions; however, without access to the specific language that was modified, removed, or added, the precise operational implications for users cannot be determined. Users should review the updated Terms directly to understand how the changes affect their usage rights, account obligations, or dispute resolution procedures.
View change record →Users under 13 are prohibited from holding GitHub accounts, and any such accounts discovered will be terminated immediately without a grace period. Parents or guardians of minors should be aware that account termination would result in loss of access to any repositories or data associated with the account.
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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"GitHub does not permit children under 13 years old to have an Account. GitHub does not direct our Service to children under 13, and we do not permit any Users under the age of 13 to access the 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 Terms of Service
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision reflects compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), enforced by the FTC, which prohibits online services from collecting personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. The provision is a standard COPPA compliance measure. Educational institutions using GitHub may also need to evaluate compliance with FERPA and applicable state student privacy laws. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Low. The prohibition on under-13 accounts is a standard COPPA compliance provision. The risk for institutional compliance teams is primarily in educational settings where students may be under 13 and GitHub is used as a learning platform. GitHub Education programs may have separate age-related terms. JURISDICTION FLAGS: In the EU, the General Data Protection Regulation sets the age of digital consent at 16 (or as low as 13 where member states have lowered the threshold), meaning users aged 13-15 in some EU jurisdictions may require parental consent for account creation even though the ToS only prohibits users under 13. This gap may require evaluation for EU-based educational deployments. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Educational institutions deploying GitHub for students should assess whether any students are under 13 and whether GitHub Education or GitHub Classroom agreements provide appropriate COPPA-compliant mechanisms. Vendor assessments for educational technology procurement should include a review of GitHub's age verification and parental consent procedures. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Organizations using GitHub in educational contexts should confirm that their deployment does not expose under-13 users to the platform without appropriate parental consent mechanisms. GDPR compliance teams in EU educational settings should assess the gap between GitHub's 13-year threshold and the EU digital consent age applicable in their jurisdiction.
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The under-13 prohibition reflects COPPA compliance obligations. Account termination without prior notice applies to underage accounts, which means any content, repositories, or project history associated with the account would become inaccessible immediately.
Users under 13 are prohibited from holding GitHub accounts, and any such accounts discovered will be terminated immediately without a grace period. Parents or guardians of minors should be aware that account termination would result in loss of access to any repositories or data associated with the account.
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