You must be at least 13 to use Facebook, and if you are under 18, a parent or guardian must agree to the terms on your behalf.
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 age-based eligibility criteria and allocates responsibility for compliance with the Terms to parents or guardians for minor users. It creates a contractual requirement for parental or guardian consent and acknowledgment prior to service access for users aged 13-17.
Interpretive note: The terms state age requirements but do not describe verification mechanisms; the practical enforceability and regulatory adequacy of this provision depend on Meta's operational practices, which are not detailed in the terms themselves.
The updated terms establish a jurisdictional change for consumers. Previously, all disputes had to be resolved in California courts; now, if you are a consumer or if your country requires it, disputes must be resolved in courts within your home country under your home country's laws. For Meta's own claims against you, the agreement still requires disputes to proceed exclusively in California courts. The revised terms also now require Meta to notify you at least 30 days in advance before making changes to these Terms, and you will have the opportunity to review them before they take effect, unless changes are required by law.
View change record →Minors under 13 are not permitted to use Facebook under these terms, and those aged 13 to 17 require parental consent, but parents should be aware that the terms do not describe robust verification mechanisms and the same broad content license and advertising use provisions apply to minor users who do have accounts.
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The End User Services are only for your personal use. You must not, and must not allow others to: Use the End User Services for a commercial or business purpose or in any way other than your own personal purposes;
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"Our Products are not directed to children. You must be at least 13 years old to use our Products. If you are under 18, you must have your parent or legal guardian's permission to use our Products and they must read and agree to these Terms on your behalf.— Excerpt from Meta's Meta Terms of Service
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision directly engages COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act), which applies to online services directed at children under 13 or with actual knowledge of users under 13, and is enforced by the FTC. The EU's GDPR and the age-appropriate design requirements under the UK Children's Code (UK Age Appropriate Design Code) impose additional obligations for users under 18 in those jurisdictions. The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act imposes design and data minimization obligations for services used by minors under 18 in California. Meta has faced significant regulatory scrutiny and enforcement actions related to its handling of minor users across multiple jurisdictions. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High. The gap between the stated minimum age of 13 and the absence of described age verification mechanisms creates significant COPPA and state law exposure. Regulators in the EU, UK, and US have prioritized child online safety as an enforcement area, and the application of the broad content license and advertising use provisions to minor users aged 13 to 17 may require evaluation under applicable child protection frameworks. JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU member states implementing the GDPR Age Verification and the UK Children's Code impose stricter requirements than COPPA for minors under 18. California's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act requires data protection impact assessments for products likely to be accessed by minors under 18. Illinois' BIPA may apply where biometric data of minors is collected through platform features. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Organizations that integrate Meta's platforms, authentication services, or advertising tools into their own products serving minors should conduct due diligence on whether Meta's age restriction and parental consent mechanisms satisfy applicable law in their jurisdictions. Vendor assessments should include Meta's documented age verification practices rather than relying solely on the terms assertion. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Parents and guardians should review whether adequate parental consent mechanisms are presented during account creation for users under 18. Compliance teams at organizations operating in the children's digital services space should assess whether their Meta integrations create downstream COPPA obligations. Regulatory monitoring for COPPA enforcement trends involving social media platforms should inform ongoing risk assessment.
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This provision establishes age-based eligibility criteria and allocates responsibility for compliance with the Terms to parents or guardians for minor users. It creates a contractual requirement for parental or guardian consent and acknowledgment prior to service access for users aged 13-17.
Minors under 13 are not permitted to use Facebook under these terms, and those aged 13 to 17 require parental consent, but parents should be aware that the terms do not describe robust verification mechanisms and the same broad content license and advertising use provisions apply to minor users who do have accounts.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 1 platforms. See the full comparison.
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