Tip: To avoid COPPA violations, do not indicate to users that an age restriction exists when collecting personally identifiable information (PII).

COPPA is triggered whenever your website collects both age-identifying information and PII. However, you must not warn users at the point of data collection that an age restriction may prevent them from completing the form. Users must be given the opportunity to input their correct age.

For example, the following language should NOT be used on a form: "I accept and agree to abide by [the] terms [of the website], and I confirm that I am AT LEAST 18 years of age" or "You must be at least 13 years old to use this site." In these examples users know exactly how to falsify their age to circumvent the age restriction.

Similarly, when providing a pull-down menu for users to select their birthdate or age, do not start the list at the minimum acceptable age or year, such as "18" or "1985." Include a full range of ages and dates, thus allowing the user the opportunity to select their correct age or birthdate. Likewise, age should not be collected by asking age-revealing questions such as grade level.

Read past tips at www.truste.org/sealholders/tech_tips.php.

 

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