COPPA defines a child as an individual under the age of 13
Verified Confidence: high
Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.
- Commonly cited as
- "COPPA applies to kids under 13"
- True origin
- Federal Trade Commission (16 CFR Part 312) — Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA Rule), § 312.2 Definitions
- Type
- Reference fact: A frequently needed number or rule taken directly from a primary source (e.g. Pew, Census, IAB/PwC, FTC), with its as-of date.
- Year
- 2025
- Data as of
- eCFR current text (as amended Apr. 22, 2025)
- Last checked
- What the source says
Child means an individual under the age of 13.
- Method & sample
- Federal regulation text (eCFR).
- Drift between quote and source
- Teens 13–17 are not covered by COPPA, though some state laws cover them
- Interest
- n/a (statute or regulation).
Safe rephrasing
The FTC's COPPA Rule defines a child as an individual under 13; collecting their personal information online requires verifiable parental consent.
Sources we opened
- 16 CFR Part 312 (eCFR) (primary)
Machine-readable: /api/claims/coppa-child-means-under-13.json · Last checked 2026-10-16