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 no longer explicitly discloses that user interactions with AI systems will be used to improve Meta's AI, nor does it describe how data is shared or collected in specific detail. Previously, the policy offered a 24/7 AI support assistant and clear pathways to manage or delete account data; these references are now absent. The removal of these disclosures does not necessarily mean the practices have stopped, but users no longer have explicit written confirmation of these features or data uses within the published policy.
View change record →The updated policy establishes that interactions with Meta's AI assistant will be used to improve Meta's AI systems. The policy states that by using the service, users agree to Meta's AI terms. Previously, the policy did not explicitly disclose this use of conversational data for AI training purposes. This means user conversations with the AI support assistant are now expressly authorized for use in improving Meta's broader AI infrastructure.
View change record →The updated policy narrows the terms users explicitly agree to by using the service from a three-part agreement (Meta Terms, AI terms, and Privacy Policy) to AI terms only. The policy now explicitly discloses that interactions with AIs will be used to improve AI at Meta. This means continued use of the service constitutes acceptance of this narrower agreement scope and explicit participation in AI training data use. You should review Meta's AI terms directly to understand what they cover and what controls, if any, are available.
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.
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.
Our services are restricted to users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not permit users under the age of 18 on our platform and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you suspect that a user is under the age of 18, please use the reporting mechanism available...
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.
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"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 Threads 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 collection from children under 13. The FTC enforces COPPA. The policy's age threshold of 12, rather than 13, creates a one-year buffer relative to COPPA's statutory threshold. EU and EEA jurisdictions apply GDPR Article 8, which sets the digital consent age at 16 unless member states set a lower threshold (minimum 13), and requires verifiable parental consent for users below that age. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The parental consent mechanism for users aged 12 to 17 is stated in policy terms but the technical implementation and verification mechanisms are not described in the supplemental policy. COPPA and GDPR compliance require that parental consent be obtained through a verifiable mechanism, not merely stated in terms of service. Regulatory scrutiny of children's data practices on social media platforms is an active area of enforcement. JURISDICTION FLAGS: The US federal COPPA framework applies to users under 13. EU member state implementations of GDPR Article 8 vary in their digital consent age thresholds. California's Age-Appropriate Design Code (AADC) creates additional obligations for platforms likely to be accessed by minors under 18, including data minimization and default privacy settings. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Organizations deploying Threads in educational or youth-facing contexts should assess whether the stated age restrictions and parental consent mechanisms satisfy applicable legal requirements in their jurisdiction. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should assess whether the age verification and parental consent mechanisms implemented in the Threads and Instagram account creation flows satisfy COPPA verifiable parental consent requirements. EU compliance teams should verify adherence to GDPR Article 8 and applicable member state digital consent age thresholds. Teams in California should evaluate obligations under the California AADC for minor users.
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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 2 platforms. See the full comparison.
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