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.
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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 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.
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
Ad personalization controls removed. Contact scanning added. Advertiser data partnerships quietly dropped. A timeline of every change.
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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 290 platforms. See the full comparison.
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