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Users aged 13-17 may access the App only through an account created by and registered to a parent or legal guardian, with all account information belonging to the adult, and only with active permission and supervision of that adult.
This analysis describes what Whatnot'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
This provision establishes that minor users access the platform through adult accounts rather than separate minor-designated accounts, which creates a structural dependency on parental oversight mechanisms rather than platform-level age verification or segregated minor account controls.
The updated terms establish mandatory arbitration as the exclusive dispute resolution mechanism for influencers, replacing direct court access in California and Australia. Under the revised language, any dispute with Whatnot must proceed through arbitration under the main Terms of Service, which includes a class action waiver. This means influencers cannot bring class or collective claims and cannot access court proceedings except where the main Terms of Service explicitly permits. The practical effect is that individual influencers seeking to resolve disagreements with Whatnot over payments, account suspension, content disputes, or contractual interpretation must use arbitration rather than litigation.
View change record →The updated terms establish a formal Creator Program for Australian users that defines how creators can submit content for potential monetary or credit rewards. Creators grant Whatnot a one-year, non-exclusive, worldwide license to use submitted videos across paid and organic social media, television, and other platforms, while retaining ownership of the original content. The terms require creators to clearly disclose any material connection to Whatnot, including consideration or free products received, in a form specified by Whatnot and compliant with Australian advertising standards and the AANA Code of Ethics.
View change record →Australian sellers using Whatnot are now required to resolve all disputes through arbitration rather than through Australian courts. The updated terms state that disputes will be resolved exclusively under the main Terms of Service arbitration provisions, removing the previous option to bring legal action in Los Angeles courts or pursue jury trials. The terms no longer include language allowing court proceedings, except where the main Terms of Service expressly permit.
View change record →Current version changes from requiring parental consent to requiring parental account creation and supervision, and mandates all user information must belong to the parent/guardian rather than the minor.
View full change record →Under this clause, minors aged 13-17 who use the App do so through their parent or guardian's account and under that adult's responsibility. All transaction activity, payment authorizations, and account obligations associated with a minor's use are attributed to and borne by the parent or guardian account holder.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Supervised Minor Use Provision (Ages 13-17) and similar clauses.
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"Teens between the ages of 13-17 may use the App only if they are using an Account created by their parent or legal guardian and are doing so with the permission and under the supervision of that parent or legal guardian. Any and all User Information (defined below) associated with the Account must be that of the parent or legal guardian.Excerpt from Whatnot's Terms of Service
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The provision engages COPPA, which applies to online services directed to children under 13 and to operators with actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information from children under 13. The document's approach of permitting 13-17 year old access through parental accounts rather than implementing separate minor-specific data handling or consent mechanisms may require evaluation under applicable state privacy laws governing minors, including California's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, which imposes specific obligations on platforms likely to be accessed by minors under 18. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High. The structural choice to permit minor access through adult accounts rather than implementing platform-level minor account controls or age verification creates compliance exposure under state laws governing minor online privacy and safety, particularly in California. The document places full responsibility for minor supervision on the parent or guardian without describing any platform-level safeguards or restrictions applicable to minor users. JURISDICTION FLAGS: California's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act imposes specific design and data processing obligations for platforms likely accessed by minors under 18. Other states including Texas, Virginia, and Florida have enacted or are developing similar minor online privacy statutes. The absence of described platform-level minor protections should be assessed against requirements in each active jurisdiction. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Whatnot's payment processors and third-party service providers involved in transactions where minor users participate through parental accounts should be assessed for compliance with applicable minor data protection requirements. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal and compliance teams should evaluate whether the parental account supervision model satisfies the requirements of California's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act and analogous state statutes, and whether the platform's actual onboarding and verification flows operationalize the supervision requirement described in the Terms.
This provision establishes that minor users access the platform through adult accounts rather than separate minor-designated accounts, which creates a structural dependency on parental oversight mechanisms rather than platform-level age verification or segregated minor account controls.
Under this clause, minors aged 13-17 who use the App do so through their parent or guardian's account and under that adult's responsibility. All transaction activity, payment authorizations, and account obligations associated with a minor's use are attributed to and borne by the parent or guardian account holder.
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