Steam does not allow users under 13 to create accounts, and does not intentionally collect personal data from children under 13.
This analysis describes what Steam'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
Parents and guardians should be aware that if a child under 13 creates an account without Valve's knowledge, Valve's terms do not authorize that account and any personal data collected may need to be deleted upon notification.
The updated agreement no longer explicitly discloses that Steam Wallet funds held by Japanese users will expire six months after being added, or that expiration dates can be reviewed in the Steam Wallet. The removal of this disclosure eliminates the transparency mechanism previously available to Japanese subscribers regarding fund expiration timelines and monitoring options. Japanese law may still impose expiration requirements on stored funds regardless of contractual disclosure, but the agreement no longer notifies users of this expiration mechanism.
View change record →This provision was removed from the subscriber agreement, though it appears as 'Age Restriction and Parental Consent' in the new version without the COPPA-specific terminology.
View full change record →Children under 13 are not authorized to use Steam, and parents who discover their child has created an account can contact Valve to request deletion of the account and associated personal data.
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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"You may not become a Subscriber if you are under the age of 13. Steam is not intended for children under 13 and Valve will not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. Additional age restrictions may apply in your country.— Excerpt from Steam's Steam Subscriber Agreement
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The under-13 age restriction directly engages COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) in the US, which prohibits collection of personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. GDPR Article 8 sets the age of digital consent at 16 (with member state flexibility to lower it to 13), meaning EU platforms must consider age verification and parental consent mechanisms for users under the applicable national age threshold. The UK's Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) imposes additional obligations for services likely to be accessed by minors. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The agreement states Valve will not knowingly collect personal data from under-13 users, but the mechanism by which age is verified at registration is not described in the document. The adequacy of age verification practices is a compliance consideration for COPPA enforcement by the FTC. JURISDICTION FLAGS: US COPPA enforcement by the FTC applies to online services directed to or likely used by children under 13. EU GDPR Article 8 and national implementations create varying age thresholds (13-16) across member states. UK Children's Code applies to services likely to be accessed by users under 18. Additional age restrictions referenced in the agreement but not specified may create compliance obligations in specific markets. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Valve's affirmative statement that Steam is not intended for under-13 users is a standard COPPA compliance representation, but does not eliminate compliance risk if the platform's design or content is likely to attract underage users. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams should assess the adequacy of Steam's age gate and verification mechanisms in light of FTC COPPA guidance, GDPR Article 8, and the UK Children's Code. Parents who identify under-13 accounts should submit deletion requests through Valve's support portal.
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Parents and guardians should be aware that if a child under 13 creates an account without Valve's knowledge, Valve's terms do not authorize that account and any personal data collected may need to be deleted upon notification.
Children under 13 are not authorized to use Steam, and parents who discover their child has created an account can contact Valve to request deletion of the account and associated personal data.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 13 platforms. See the full comparison.
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