Major social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, require users to be at least 13. This includes those in Australia and New Zealand. This minimum age requirement stems from 1998 US legislation which banned the collection of children's personal data without parental consent.
Facebook and its social media peers require users to be at least 13 years old to use their sites. That age traces back to a 1990s law that prohibits the tracking and data collection of children. Experts called the age "arbitrary" and said even if it were raised, it wouldn't ensure kids' safety.
In fact, the origin of the 13+ age restrictions is a 22-year-old US law called COPPA, aka the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998. That piece of legislation made it illegal to collect or store the personal information of children under age 13.
We don't really recommend children under the age of 13 using social media. It could start a dangerous precedent, and hook young children from a very early age. However, the normal version of Facebook, once your child has reached a suitable age, is probably quite a good option as far as social media goes.
Facebook requires everyone to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account (in some jurisdictions, this age limit may be higher). Creating an account with false info is a violation of our terms.
TikTok requires its users to be at least 13 years old. Despite users having to be aged 13 and up the age ratings for TikTok are, a little confusingly, 12+ on Apple's App Store and "Parental Guidance Recommended" on the Google Play Store.
What is the Age Limit for TikTok? The minimum age for a TikTok user is 13 years old. While this is great news for younger users, it's important to note that TikTok doesn't use any age verification tools when new users sign up.
Due to the various dangers and effects of social media, it is necessary that parents restrict their children from using social media until at least 13 years old. At that age, they may introduce those apps to their children so the process becomes more gradual and easier to monitor.
Appropriately called Messenger Kids, it's a messaging app designed specifically for children between the ages of six and 12. It does not require a Facebook account, which makes sense, considering US federal law says children under the age of 13 can't have a Facebook account.
Messenger Kids is an app for kids to connect and keep in touch with friends and family. Features include messaging, video calling, games and stickers. Using the Parent Dashboard from their Facebook account, parents can manage their child's friends, monitor their activity and change their account settings.
1 ENABLE device-level parental controls
TikTok states that the app is intended for users aged 13 years and over and has a 12+ App Store rating.
As part of their privacy policies, social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube specify that users must be at least 13 years old. Parents may be unaware of this requirement.
TikTok can be a kid-friendly experience if you supervise your kids, use safety settings, and stick to songs you already know. But TikTok's emphasis on popular music means many videos include swearing and sexual lyrics, so it may not be age-appropriate for kids to use on their own.
How old should kids be to use Instagram? According to the terms of service, you have to be 13, but there's no age-verification process, so it's very easy for kids under 13 to sign up. Common Sense rates Instagram for age 15 and up because of mature content, access to strangers, marketing ploys, and data collection.
So until children reach the age of 13, it's best for them to stay off Facebook and learn how to be safe and make smart choices online in other ways. Consider taking our online e-safety training course to help you assist your children even more with making safer choices in a digital environment.
What is the age limit for Snapchat? The minimum age for Snapchat users is 13 years old. However, it's incredibly easy for a child to circumvent the snapchat age limit by using a fake date of birth. Snapchat doesn't have the means to verify their identity or their age, so fooling the app is a breeze.
I interviewed several experts in children's media who agreed that if parents are going to let their children chat online, Messenger Kids is a safe option. Parents are in full control of who their children can communicate with in the app.
Messenger Kids is a platform designed specifically for children under 13 so the app has many safety features. But there's still the risk of cyberbullying and hacking. You can reduce these risks by keeping tabs on the app and asking children about their recent activities.
Enhanced Protection for Minors
Messenger has additional protections for 13- to 17-year-olds, including limiting who can message them and how they can be found in search.
The age limit is 13 because of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which was passed in 1998. COPPA restricts websites from tracking data on children under 13, which is why most apps do not want kids younger than 13 to join.
Twitter requires people using our service to be 13 years of age or older. In some countries, the law requires a parent or guardian to give consent for people older than 13, but under the age of consent in their country, to use our service.
Plunkett notes that the child's feelings don't have to be the main deciding factor, but if the child would certainly hate the post, it's probably not worth posting. Likewise, if your answer to that question is “I'm not sure” then it's worth a conversation with your child. “Age doesn't matter,” says Ginsburg.
Snapchat is restricted to users over the age of 13. If children under the age of 13 sign up for an account they are given access to 'SnapKidz' which is a limited version of Snapchat that doesn't allow images to be sent to other devices.
You have to enter your birth date to set up an account, but there's no age verification, so it's easy for kids under 13 to sign up. Common Sense Media rates Snapchat OK for teens 16 and up, mainly because of the exposure to age-inappropriate content and the marketing ploys, such as quizzes, that collect data.
“Ten to 12 is a great range because kids are still very connected to their parents and into their parents being in their phone and in their business,” says Catherine Pearlman, a licensed clinical social worker and author of “First Phone,” a guide for kids.