Is There a Minimum Age to Have a Facebook Account?
With the seemingly endless threats to younger children on the Internet, understanding the age requirements for social networking sites such as Facebook can help you keep your kids safe and protected from predators online. Know the requirements for Facebook membership before your children register an account that may make them a target.
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Facebook Age Restriction
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Facebook prohibits registrations by children younger than 13 years old. In keeping with U.S. federal laws, Facebook does not knowingly collect any personal information from children under 13.
Enforcement Policy
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Facebook regularly deletes accounts created by children younger than 13. A form is in the "Help" section of the site dedicated to reporting underage accounts on the network. If you report a child younger than 13, be prepared to provide the physical URL to the profile, the child's information including current age and your relationship to him.
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Other Minors
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Facebook recommends interacting with your teens when they use Facebook. Become your child's "friend" on the network so you can remain informed of the things she leaves visible to her friends. Review the security settings on her profile regularly with her, explaining the importance of protecting herself and the family's information. Monitor her activity regularly to ensure that she is remaining safe while using her Facebook profile, and review her friends list together, making sure that she is only adding people that she actually knows.
COPPA
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COPPA is the standard abbreviation for the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Passed in 1998, COPPA restricts websites from collecting any personal information from anyone younger than the age of 13. The act was designed to prevent young children from inadvertently distributing their email, phone number or other personal information to predators.
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