Children who are considered minors in their country can only use Google services with a parent or guardian's permission, and the parent or guardian becomes legally responsible for anything the child does on Google's services.
This analysis describes what Google'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 allocates responsibility for minor account holders to parents or guardians, establishing a binding relationship between the terms, the guardian, and the minor's conduct on the platform. It creates a compliance mechanism whereby parental authorization becomes a condition of service eligibility for users below the age of majority.
The updated terms establish that Google provides services 'using reasonable skill and care,' a positive warranty commitment that replaces the prior blanket 'AS IS' disclaimer language. Under the revised policy, if service quality falls below that standard, users are invited to report the issue and Google commits to working toward resolution. The terms now state that Google's only commitments are those in the warranty section, service-specific terms, and non-waivable law, which is narrower than the prior language but more explicit about what consumers can expect. This change provides a clearer operational standard for service delivery and a stated pathway for addressing failures.
View change record →The updated terms state that Google provides services using 'reasonable skill and care' rather than disclaiming warranties entirely under 'as is' language. Previously, the terms disclaimed all warranties except those explicitly stated in service-specific terms. The revised language now acknowledges that both law and the terms give users rights to a certain quality of service and ways to fix problems if things go wrong. The terms establish a process in which users are expected to notify Google if service quality falls short, and Google commits to working with users to resolve the issue. This represents a shift from a liability-limiting warranty structure to one that acknowledges affirmative quality obligations.
View change record →The updated terms materially reduce service quality commitments. The revised language replaces Google's prior commitment to provide services using "reasonable skill and care" with an explicit as-is disclaimer stating that services are provided "without any express or implied warranties" unless stated in service-specific terms. The updated terms now explicitly apply to all users whether signed in to a Google account or not, extending their scope. Google also clarifies that its Privacy Policy applies to service use. These changes establish that users have fewer contractual recourse options if services fail to function as expected, except where service-specific additional terms or applicable law provide otherwise.
View change record →Parents and guardians who allow their minor children to use Google services assume full legal responsibility for the child's conduct, including potential liability for content violations, unauthorized purchases, or account misuse — a significant parental liability exposure that most users may not be aware of.
How other platforms handle this
The Meta Products are not directed to children. Access to or use of Meta Products by anyone under the age of 13 is not allowed. If you are based in the EU, you must be at least 16 years old, or the minimum age in your country if it is higher than 16, to use or access Meta Products, unless your count...
Activities involving gambling, gaming and/or any other activity with an entry fee and a prize, including, but not limited to property/real estate prizes, casino games, sports betting, horse or greyhound racing, fantasy sports, lottery tickets, other ventures that facilitate gambling, games of skill ...
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"If you're a minor in your country, you must have your parent or legal guardian's permission to use our services. Please have your parent or legal guardian read these terms with you. If you're a parent or legal guardian, and you allow your child to use the services, then these terms apply to you and you're responsible for your child's activity on the services.— Excerpt from Google's Google Terms of Service
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision directly engages COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. §§6501-6506, 16 CFR Part 312), enforced by the FTC, which requires verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13. GDPR Art. 8 sets the age of digital consent at 16 (with member state derogation to 13) and requires parental consent for children below that threshold, enforced by EU DPAs. The UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) imposes additional standards for services likely accessed by children under 18, enforced by the ICO. California's Age Appropriate Design Code Act (AB 2273) similarly applies.
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This provision allocates responsibility for minor account holders to parents or guardians, establishing a binding relationship between the terms, the guardian, and the minor's conduct on the platform. It creates a compliance mechanism whereby parental authorization becomes a condition of service eligibility for users below the age of majority.
Parents and guardians who allow their minor children to use Google services assume full legal responsibility for the child's conduct, including potential liability for content violations, unauthorized purchases, or account misuse — a significant parental liability exposure that most users may not be aware of.
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