Developers are prohibited from using Meta's platform to build apps for children under 13 or collect their data, unless Meta has specifically approved the application and the developer complies with child privacy laws.
This analysis describes what Meta'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 baseline protection for minors by restricting developer access to Meta's platform for child-directed applications unless specific approval and legal compliance obligations are met, particularly under COPPA.
Parents and guardians of children under 13 should be aware that Meta's platform terms prohibit developers from building child-directed apps on Meta's APIs without special approval, though enforcement depends on Meta's monitoring and the developer's own practices.
How other platforms handle this
If you do not have a social security number you may still be eligible to open a limited Revolut personal account. Depending on your immigration status, we may ask you to provide us with a copy of your supported U.S. visa and may limit your access to certain products and features.
You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum age required in your country) to use Threads. If you are under 18, you must have your parent or legal guardian's permission to use Threads.
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.
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"You will not use the Platform or any Platform Data to build products or services directed to children under 13, or knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through your application, unless your application has received special approval from Meta and you comply with applicable laws, including COPPA.— Excerpt from Meta's Meta Platform Policy
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision directly engages COPPA, which prohibits the collection of personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent, enforced by the FTC. The FTC has brought enforcement actions against developers who failed to implement adequate age screening or who collected children's data without parental consent. EU/EEA developers must also comply with GDPR provisions on children's data, which in many member states set the age threshold at 16 unless member state law specifies a lower age (minimum 13). GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High for any developer whose application may be accessed by minors or that operates in categories typically associated with children's use, such as gaming, education, or entertainment. The combination of COPPA enforcement risk and Meta's contractual requirement creates dual exposure. JURISDICTION FLAGS: US developers are subject to FTC COPPA enforcement. EU/EEA developers face GDPR Article 8 requirements regarding children's consent, with varying age thresholds across member states. UK developers must comply with the UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code), which imposes additional obligations for online services likely to be accessed by children. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Developers building apps in categories that may attract child users should implement robust age verification mechanisms and document their assessments of whether their app is child-directed under COPPA's definitions. Legal counsel should review app design, marketing, and user base demographics as part of COPPA compliance analysis. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Developers should conduct COPPA applicability assessments for their applications, implement age gates or verification where appropriate, and maintain documentation of Meta's special approval if their application is designed for children. Privacy policies and parental consent mechanisms should be reviewed by counsel with COPPA expertise.
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This provision establishes a baseline protection for minors by restricting developer access to Meta's platform for child-directed applications unless specific approval and legal compliance obligations are met, particularly under COPPA.
Parents and guardians of children under 13 should be aware that Meta's platform terms prohibit developers from building child-directed apps on Meta's APIs without special approval, though enforcement depends on Meta's monitoring and the developer's own practices.
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