Headspace restricts its services to users 13 and older and does not intentionally collect data from children under 13; if such data is collected accidentally, Headspace states it will delete it.
This analysis describes what Headspace'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
Given that Headspace handles sensitive mental health data, the age restriction and COPPA compliance commitment is an important protection, though users between 13 and 17 may still use the platform with their data subject to the general policy terms rather than additional parental consent protections.
Children under 13 are excluded from Headspace services, but teenagers aged 13 to 17 can use the platform and their mental health and behavioral data is subject to the standard policy terms; parents of teen users should be aware that no additional parental consent mechanism is described in the main policy for this age group.
How other platforms handle this
Our Services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete such information. In some juris...
Our services are not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.
The Waze App is not intended for use by children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction, which may be higher, such as 16 in certain EU member states). If we become aware that we have collected...
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"Headspace's Products and Services are not directed to children under 13 years of age and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are under 13, do not use or provide any information on our Products or via our Services. If we learn that we have collected or received personal information from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information.— Excerpt from Headspace's Headspace Privacy Policy
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision directly implicates COPPA, enforced by the FTC, which prohibits the collection of personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. The policy's prohibition on under-13 use and commitment to delete inadvertently collected data reflects standard COPPA compliance practice. For EU users, GDPR Article 8 sets the digital consent age at 16 (with member states able to lower it to 13), meaning the threshold may vary by country. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The 13-and-over restriction is consistent with COPPA requirements, but the policy does not describe age verification mechanisms, which is a recurring area of FTC scrutiny for platforms that collect sensitive data. Platforms offering mental health services to teenagers face heightened scrutiny given the sensitivity of the data and the vulnerability of the user population. JURISDICTION FLAGS: US federal COPPA applies for users under 13. Several US states have enacted children's online privacy laws with broader age thresholds (e.g., California's AADC and CPPA rulemaking, Texas, and others) that may extend protections to users under 18 in certain contexts, particularly for platforms handling mental health data. EU member states may set digital consent ages between 13 and 16. UK GDPR and the ICO's Age Appropriate Design Code may impose additional obligations for users under 18. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Advertising and analytics vendors should contractually confirm they do not target or profile users based on data that indicates minor status. If Headspace's services are accessed via school or family accounts, additional FERPA or state student privacy law considerations may arise. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should review the age verification processes implemented at account creation, assess whether the platform's UX design features are compliant with the UK ICO Age Appropriate Design Code if UK minors access the service, and evaluate whether the 13-17 age cohort receives any differentiated data handling given the sensitivity of mental health data and emerging state-level protections for minors' data.
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Given that Headspace handles sensitive mental health data, the age restriction and COPPA compliance commitment is an important protection, though users between 13 and 17 may still use the platform with their data subject to the general policy terms rather than additional parental consent protections.
Children under 13 are excluded from Headspace services, but teenagers aged 13 to 17 can use the platform and their mental health and behavioral data is subject to the standard policy terms; parents of teen users should be aware that no additional parental consent mechanism is described in the main policy for this age group.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 3 platforms. See the full comparison.
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