Children under 13 can only use a restricted version of TikTok called the Under 13 Experience. Users between 13 and 17 can access the platform but with some features disabled, and they need their parent or guardian's permission to use it.
This analysis describes what TikTok'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 agreement establishes age-based access restrictions and places legal responsibility on parents and guardians for minor users' platform activity, while the Under 13 Experience provides a separate data collection framework for the youngest users.
This provision establishes that users under 13 may only access the Under 13 Experience with limited data collection, users under 18 face feature restrictions and require parental consent, and parents or guardians who accept the terms on behalf of minors are contractually responsible for those minors' use of the platform.
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Depending on where you are located, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your personal information, the right to data portability, and the right to object to or withdraw consent for certain processi...
For individuals in the United States, please also refer to our Notice For Individuals Residing In Certain US States below and the Consumer Health Data Policy.
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"If you are under 13 years of age, you may not use the Platform, unless you are using the separate Under 13 Experience. A dedicated Children's Privacy Policy provides further details about how we collect, use, share, and otherwise process the personal information of users of the Under 13 Experience. If you are under 18 years of age, certain features on the Platform may be disabled or restricted for your use. We monitor for underage use of the Platform and we will ban your account or remove your access to certain features if we believe that you do not meet the minimum age requirements. If you are under 18 years of age, you must review these Terms (and our Privacy Policy) with your parent or guardian, and obtain their permission before you use the Platform. If you are the parent or guardian of such a user, you accept and agree to these Terms on their behalf and further agree that you are responsible for their use of the Platform.— Excerpt from TikTok's TikTok Terms of Service
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision directly engages the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which restricts collection of personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. The FTC is the primary enforcement authority for COPPA. The adequacy of the Under 13 Experience as a COPPA-compliant mechanism depends on whether the separate Children's Privacy Policy and associated data practices satisfy COPPA's requirements for parental consent and data minimization. The document's reference to a separate Children's Privacy Policy for the Under 13 Experience is relevant to COPPA compliance assessment. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High. COPPA compliance for the Under 13 Experience represents a high-exposure area given the FTC's enforcement history with child-directed platforms. The provision that parents and guardians accepting terms on behalf of minors under 18 are contractually responsible for those minors' use may create additional exposure if the platform's age verification mechanisms are inadequate. JURISDICTION FLAGS: Several states including California (AADC), New York, and Illinois have enacted or are developing child online privacy and safety legislation that may impose obligations beyond federal COPPA requirements. Platforms with significant minor user populations should evaluate exposure under these state frameworks, particularly regarding data minimization, algorithmic recommendation restrictions, and default privacy settings for minors. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Organizations that make TikTok available to employees or users who may include minors should assess whether their own data processing agreements with TikTok adequately account for COPPA compliance obligations. Schools or educational organizations permitting student TikTok use should evaluate FERPA and COPPA interactions. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should assess whether TikTok's age verification and monitoring mechanisms for the Under 13 Experience meet applicable COPPA and state law standards. The Children's Privacy Policy referenced in this provision should be reviewed separately for data minimization, third-party sharing restrictions, and parental rights provisions. Any institutional use of TikTok in contexts involving minors should trigger a COPPA compliance review.
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The agreement establishes age-based access restrictions and places legal responsibility on parents and guardians for minor users' platform activity, while the Under 13 Experience provides a separate data collection framework for the youngest users.
This provision establishes that users under 13 may only access the Under 13 Experience with limited data collection, users under 18 face feature restrictions and require parental consent, and parents or guardians who accept the terms on behalf of minors are contractually responsible for those minors' use of the platform.
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