Threads prohibits users under 12, requires parental agreement for users aged 12 to 18, and states it will delete data collected from children under 12 if discovered.
This analysis describes what Threads'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
The policy establishes a minimum age of 12 for Threads access and requires parental consent for minors aged 12 to 17, which is relevant for COPPA compliance and parental oversight of minors' social media use.
Interpretive note: The policy states parental agreement is required for users aged 12 to 17 but does not describe the technical mechanism used to verify age or obtain verifiable parental consent, leaving the practical implementation of this requirement uncertain from the document alone.
The updated policy removes FAQ sections that previously addressed how to deactivate or delete a profile, manage personal information, and share data with third parties. Additionally, the policy removes explicit language disclosing that 'Your interactions with AIs will be used to improve AI at Meta' and removes the direction to review Meta's AI terms. Users no longer have these FAQ resources in the policy document, though this change does not necessarily alter the underlying practices or rights; it only removes the documented guidance.
View change record →Children under 12 are prohibited from using Threads, and the policy states Meta will delete data collected from such users if discovered. Users aged 12 to 17 require parental or guardian agreement to use the platform, which places an affirmative obligation on parents to review and accept the terms on behalf of minors.
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to object to profiling activities based on our own legitimate interests
"Threads is not for people under the age of 12. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under the age of 12, we will take steps to delete the information as soon as possible. If you are between the ages of 12 and 18, you must have your parent or guardian read these terms and agree to them before you use Threads.Excerpt from Threads's Privacy Policy
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The minimum age provision and parental consent requirement engage the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which applies to online services directed to children under 13 or where the operator has actual knowledge of …
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
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The policy establishes a minimum age of 12 for Threads access and requires parental consent for minors aged 12 to 17, which is relevant for COPPA compliance and parental oversight of minors' social media use.
Children under 12 are prohibited from using Threads, and the policy states Meta will delete data collected from such users if discovered. Users aged 12 to 17 require parental or guardian agreement to use the platform, which places an affirmative obligation on parents to review and accept the terms on behalf of minors.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 289 platforms. See the full comparison.
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