Every day, millions of children use mobile apps to play games, watch videos, and chat with friends—but here's something that might surprise you: if your app attracts users under 13, you're legally required to follow strict privacy rules that could land you in serious trouble if you get them wrong. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) isn't just a suggestion; it's federal law with real consequences.
I've worked with countless app developers who thought they could simply add "13+" to their app store listing and call it a day. Spoiler alert: that doesn't work. If children can access your mobile app, you need proper COPPA compliance measures in place. This means robust age verification systems, strict data collection limits, and obtaining parental consent before collecting any personal information from young users.
The fine for COPPA violations can reach up to £35,000 per child affected, which means a single oversight could cost millions
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about making your mobile app compliant with children's privacy laws. We'll cover age verification methods, data collection restrictions, parental consent requirements, and the technical solutions that actually work. Whether you're launching a new app or updating an existing one, these strategies will help you protect young users whilst keeping your business on the right side of the law.
Understanding COPPA and Why It Matters for Your Mobile App
I've worked on dozens of mobile apps over the years, and one thing that consistently catches developers off guard is COPPA compliance. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act—or COPPA as we call it—is a US law that protects children under 13 from having their personal information collected online without proper consent. Now, you might think "I'm not based in the US, so this doesn't apply to me" but here's the thing: if your app can be downloaded by American children, COPPA applies to you.
The law came about because lawmakers recognised that children don't understand the implications of sharing personal data online. They can't make informed decisions about privacy the way adults can. COPPA is just one of many legal requirements for mobile apps that covers any app that either targets children under 13 or has actual knowledge that it's collecting information from children in that age group.
What Makes an App Subject to COPPA?
Your app falls under COPPA if it meets any of these criteria:
- It's designed for children under 13
- It knowingly collects personal information from children under 13
- It has mixed audiences but doesn't age-gate effectively
- It uses child-oriented activities, characters, or language
Getting COPPA compliance wrong isn't just embarrassing—it's expensive. The Federal Trade Commission can fine companies up to $43,280 per violation. That's per child, per piece of data collected illegally. YouTube learned this the hard way when they paid $170 million in COPPA violations back in 2019.
Age Verification Methods and Best Practices
Age verification is one of those tricky parts of COPPA compliance that can make or break your mobile app's legal standing. I've worked with countless developers who thought they could wing it with a simple "Are you over 13?" checkbox—spoiler alert: that doesn't cut it anymore.
The reality is that children will lie about their age to access content they want. We need proper systems in place that actually work. Let me walk you through the methods that hold up under scrutiny.
Common Age Verification Approaches
There are several ways to verify age in your mobile app, each with different levels of effectiveness and user friction:
- Date of birth entry with validation checks
- Credit card verification (for purchases)
- Third-party age verification services
- Parental email confirmation systems
- Government ID verification (for high-risk apps)
The method you choose depends on your app's purpose and risk level. A simple game might get away with date verification, whilst a social platform needs something more robust.
Implementation Best Practices
Don't just ask once and forget about it—that's a rookie mistake. Your age verification should happen early in the user journey, preferably during registration. Store this information securely and reference it throughout the user experience to ensure child users get age-appropriate content and features.
Always implement a "neutral age gate" that doesn't encourage children to lie—avoid making it obvious that entering a higher age grants access to better features.
Remember, age verification isn't just about compliance; it's about creating a safer environment for young users whilst protecting your business from legal headaches down the road.
Data Collection Restrictions for Children Under 13
When it comes to collecting data from children under 13, COPPA puts some pretty strict rules in place—and for good reason. Think of it this way: if you wouldn't feel comfortable asking a child these questions face-to-face without their parents around, you probably shouldn't be collecting that information through your app either.
The law prohibits collecting personal information like full names, home addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, or any other identifier that could be used to contact a child directly. This includes photos, videos, audio files, and geolocation data. You also can't collect information about the child's parents or other family members without proper consent.
What You Can Collect
There are some exceptions though. You can collect certain information for internal operations—things like maintaining security, ensuring your app works properly, or protecting against liability. You can also collect persistent identifiers like cookies or device IDs, but only for these internal purposes, not for tracking or profiling children.
The key thing to remember is that any data collection from children needs to be minimal and directly related to your app's functionality. If you can't justify why you need that specific piece of information for your app to work, don't collect it. This approach of transparent data practices will keep you on the right side of the law whilst building trust with parents who use your app.
Parental Consent Requirements and Implementation
Getting parental consent isn't just ticking a box—it's the cornerstone of COPPA compliance for your mobile app. When children under 13 want to use your app, you must get clear permission from their parents or guardians before collecting any personal information. This means names, email addresses, photos, location data, or anything else that could identify a child.
The consent process needs to be more than just clicking "I agree." Parents must understand exactly what information you're collecting and why. You'll need to explain this in simple terms—remember, not all parents are tech-savvy. Send them an email explaining your data practices, what their child will be doing on your app, and how you'll protect their information.
Choosing the Right Consent Method
There are several ways to get verifiable parental consent. You can use credit card verification, digital signatures, or video calls with parents. Email consent works too, but only if you follow up with additional verification steps. The method you choose depends on your app's complexity and budget.
The key is making sure parents truly understand what they're agreeing to, not just rushing them through another terms and conditions page
Once you have consent, store it securely and make it easy for parents to withdraw permission later. They should be able to review what information you've collected about their child and delete it if they want to. Building these features into your app from the start will save you headaches down the road.
Privacy Policies and Legal Disclosures for Child-Friendly Apps
When you're building an app that kids might use, your privacy policy isn't just another legal document—it's your shield against regulatory problems and your way of building trust with parents. I've worked with countless developers who thought they could copy-paste a standard privacy policy and call it a day. Big mistake!
Your privacy policy needs to be written in plain English that parents can actually understand. None of that legal jargon that makes people's eyes glaze over. Think of it this way: if a parent can't figure out what data you're collecting from their child in under two minutes, you've already lost them.
What Your Privacy Policy Must Include
- Clear explanation of what personal information you collect from children
- How you use that information and who you share it with
- Your parental consent process and verification methods
- How parents can review, delete, or stop further collection of their child's data
- Contact information for privacy-related questions
- Your data retention policies
Place your privacy policy where parents can easily find it—not buried in some footer link. Many successful apps put it right in their parental consent flow. Remember, transparency builds trust, and trust builds successful apps.
Technical Solutions for COPPA Compliance
Right, let's talk about the nuts and bolts of making your mobile app technically compliant with COPPA. This is where things get a bit more hands-on, but don't worry—I'll keep it simple.
Building Age Gates That Actually Work
Your age verification system needs to be rock solid. I've seen too many apps use basic dropdown menus that any child can easily bypass. Instead, implement neutral age gates that don't encourage kids to lie about their age. Ask for birth dates rather than "Are you over 13?" questions, and make sure your system can handle different date formats properly.
Data Storage and Encryption
When you do collect data from children (with proper parental consent, of course), you need to store it securely. Use encryption and implement strict security policies for all sensitive information. Your database should clearly flag child accounts so your team knows exactly which records need special handling.
Consider implementing automatic data deletion schedules for child accounts—this shows you're serious about data minimisation. You'll also want to build parental dashboards where parents can view, modify, or delete their child's information easily.
Build your COPPA compliance features into your app's core architecture from day one—retrofitting compliance later is much more expensive and risky.
Remember, your technical solutions should make compliance feel seamless, not like a burden for users or parents.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
After helping countless app developers navigate children's privacy laws, I've noticed the same mistakes popping up again and again. The good news? They're all preventable if you know what to look for.
The Most Frequent Compliance Errors
The biggest mistake I see is developers thinking they can simply add a checkbox asking "Are you over 13?" and call it a day. That's not proper age verification—it's wishful thinking. Real age verification requires robust systems that can actually detect when children are using your app.
Another common error is collecting data first and asking for parental consent later. This backwards approach violates COPPA from the moment a child opens your app. You need that consent before any data collection begins, not after.
How to Stay on the Right Side of the Law
Here's what actually works based on my experience:
- Test your age verification system with real children (they're surprisingly good at finding workarounds)
- Build data collection restrictions into your app's code from day one
- Keep detailed records of all parental consent interactions
- Regularly audit what data your app collects and why
- Don't assume third-party plugins are automatically compliant
The key is treating compliance as a core feature, not an afterthought. Trust me—it's much easier to build it right the first time than to retrofit compliance later.
Conclusion
Making your mobile app compliant with children's privacy laws isn't just about ticking boxes—it's about protecting young users and building trust with families. I've worked with countless app developers over the years, and those who get COPPA compliance right from the start always sleep better at night than those who try to retrofit it later!
The key areas we've covered—age verification, data collection restrictions, parental consent, and proper privacy policies—all work together to create a safe environment for children. Yes, it requires upfront planning and ongoing attention, but the alternative of facing regulatory action or damaging your reputation simply isn't worth the risk.
Remember that COPPA compliance isn't a one-time setup; it's an ongoing responsibility that needs regular review as your app evolves. The landscape of children's privacy protection continues to develop, and staying informed about changes will keep your mobile app on the right side of the law.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the technical requirements or legal complexities, don't hesitate to work with experienced developers and legal professionals who specialise in this area. Getting it right the first time will save you headaches—and potentially significant costs—down the road.
