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Under COPPA, how do I know if my channel is “directed to children”? Since the FTC and New York Attorney General announced their September 2019 settlement with YouTube for violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule, we’ve heard that question from channel owners – sometimes called content creators. If you’re a channel owner who shares content on user-generated platforms like YouTube, read on for FTC staff guidance about the applicability of the COPPA Rule and how those covered by the Rule can comply with its requirements.

The FTC action against YouTube and Google

The lawsuit against YouTube and Google alleged that the companies illegally collected personal information from children, in violation of COPPA. According to the complaint, the companies collected that information from viewers of child-directed YouTube channels in the form of persistent identifiers that track users across the Internet, but didn’t notify parents and get their consent. To settle the case, YouTube and Google agreed to create a mechanism so that channel owners can designate when the videos they upload to YouTube are – to use the words of COPPA – “directed to children.” The purpose of this requirement is to make sure that both YouTube and channel owners are complying with the law.

A COPPA recap

That provision of the settlement has raised questions among content creators about how to determine if what they upload to YouTube or other platforms is “directed to children.” The answer requires a brief summary of some key COPPA provisions. Passed by Congress in 1998, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act is a federal law that protects the privacy of children under 13. COPPA’s foundational principle is one that most people can agree on: Parents – not kids, companies, platforms, or content creators – should be in control when it comes to information collected from children online.

The FTC enforces the law through the COPPA Rule. In general, COPPA requires operators of commercial websites and online services that are directed to children (more about that in a minute) to provide notice and obtain verifiable parental consent before they collect personal information from kids under 13.

The COPPA Rule defines “personal information” to include obvious things like a child’s first and last name or home address, but that’s not all. Under COPPA, personal information also covers what are called persistent identifiers – behind-the-scenes code that recognizes a user over time and across different sites or online services. That could be an IP address or a cookie when it’s used to serve targeted ads. Keep in mind that an operator also might be collecting personal information through an open comment field on its site or service that allows a user under 13 to make personal information publicly available. For example, think of a comment like this on a child-directed site: My name is Mary Jones from Springfield. I love this video!

How COPPA applies to channel owners

So how does COPPA apply to channel owners who upload their content to YouTube or another third-party platform? COPPA applies in the same way it would if the channel owner had its own website or app. If a channel owner uploads content to a platform like YouTube, the channel might meet the definition of a “website or online service” covered by COPPA, depending on the nature of the content and the information collected. If the content is directed to children and if the channel owner, or someone on its behalf (for example, an ad network), collects personal information from viewers of that content (for example, through a persistent identifier that tracks a user to serve interest-based ads), the channel is covered by COPPA. Once COPPA applies, the operator must provide notice, obtain verifiable parental consent, and meet COPPA’s other requirements. For information on how to comply with COPPA, please visit the FTC’s COPPA page for our Six-Step Compliance Plan for Your Business.

How channel owners can determine if their content is directed to children

Under COPPA, there is no one-size-fits-all answer about what makes a site directed to children, but we can offer some guidance. To be clear, your content isn’t considered “directed to children” just because some children may see it. However, if your intended audience is kids under 13, you’re covered by COPPA and have to honor the Rule’s requirements.

The Rule sets out additional factors the FTC will consider in determining whether your content is child-directed:

  • the subject matter,
  • visual content,
  • the use of animated characters or child-oriented activities and incentives,
  • the kind of music or other audio content,
  • the age of models,
  • the presence of child celebrities or celebrities who appeal to children,
  • language or other characteristics of the site,
  • whether advertising that promotes or appears on the site is directed to children, and
  • competent and reliable empirical evidence about the age of the audience.

The determination of whether content is child-directed will be clearer in some contexts than in others, but we can share some general rules of thumb. First, unless you’re affirmatively targeting kids, there are many subject matter categories where you don’t have to worry about COPPA. For example, if your videos are about traditionally adult activities like employment, finances, politics, home ownership, home improvement, or travel, you’re probably not covered unless your content is geared toward kids. The same would be true for videos aimed at high school or college students. On the other hand, if your content includes traditional children’s pastimes or activities, it may be child-directed. For example, the FTC recently determined that an online dress-up game was child-directed.

Second, just because your video has bright colors or animated characters doesn’t mean you’re automatically covered by COPPA. While many animated shows are directed to kids, the FTC recognizes there can be animated programming that appeals to everyone.

Third, the complaint in the YouTube case offers some examples of channels the FTC considered to be directed to children. For example, many content creators explicitly stated in the “About” section of their YouTube channel that their intended audience was children under 13. Other channels made similar statements in communications with YouTube. In addition, many of the channels featured popular animated children’s programs or showed kids playing with toys or participating in other child-oriented activities. Some of the channel owners also enabled settings that made their content appear when users searched for the names of popular toys or animated characters. Want to see the FTC’s analysis in context? Read pages 10-14 of the YouTube complaint.

Finally, if you’ve applied the factors listed in the COPPA Rule and still wonder if your content is “directed to children,” it might help to consider how others view your content and content similar to yours. Has your channel been reviewed on sites that evaluate content for kids? Is your channel – or channels like yours – mentioned in blogs for parents of young children or in media articles about child-directed content? Have you surveyed your users or is there other empirical evidence about the age of your audience?

What are the possible penalties for violating COPPA?

The Rule allows for civil penalties of up to $42,530 per violation, but the FTC considers a number of factors in determining the appropriate amount, including a company’s financial condition and the impact a penalty could have on its ability to stay in business. While Google and YouTube paid $170 million, in another COPPA case settled this year, the operator paid a total civil penalty of $35,000.

Isn’t the FTC taking another look at the COPPA Rule?

Yes, the FTC is currently evaluating the Rule in light of rapid changes in technology. If you would like to comment on the effectiveness of the COPPA Rule and whether changes are needed, the FTC has extended the comment deadline to December 9, 2019.

Where can channel owners go for more information?

A look at the factors in the COPPA Rule will help most channel owners determine if their content is directed to children. If you’re still unsure about how COPPA applies to you, consider contacting an attorney or consulting with one of the COPPA Safe Harbor programs – self-regulatory groups that offer guidance on how operators can comply with the law. Visit the FTC’s website for a list of currently approved Safe Harbor organizations. For more resources, visit the FTC’s Children’s Privacy page for our Six-Step Compliance Plan for Your Business.

 
 
 

Jacob Childress
November 23, 2019
There are animations that are for adults. Family Guy, South Park. As well as games that are for adults only. Doom, Diablo, and many more. So please be less vague in COPPA’s rules
Zeus
November 23, 2019
I think these new changes don't help to prevent issues on Children Protection Act because there arw many ways to trick the age of children. They might put information that's not accurate, for example their ages. Parents should protect their own child because its their own responsibility in the first place, not the government. Its unfair for us, Youtube Creators
Guest
November 23, 2019
Please aproved youtube my channel
Guest
November 23, 2019
can you please just make It so we can say it is for all ages your causing a lot of panic on me thx <3
Guest
November 23, 2019
My content is for kids
XDPro4000
November 26, 2019

In reply to by Guest

I will protest this is not right they will kill families and destroy businesses the stuff they say is from 1998
FTC Staff
December 26, 2019

In reply to by XDPro4000

The FTC has information to help you learn about COPPA. The Commission’s original COPPA Rule became effective on April 21, 2000.  Then, an amended Rule took effect on July 1, 2013. Because of rapid changes in technology, the FTC is evaluating the Rule in 2019.

Please, don&#039;t …
November 23, 2019
This is unfair for content creators. Youtubers right now are unsure of what category their content is. The "Kids Content" category is too broad. Content creators will have to make a bet on every single video because of this. Content creators that creates Kids Content will also love 80-90% of their ad revenue. This will surely demotivate and make the lives of those content creators hard. This will make the channels that create content for kids disappear and can't continue making content. Children will watch more "Adult Content" because of this. Also, the 42k fine per video is absolutely ridicolous. Many content creators will go homeless. Please change the rules.
Joseph
November 23, 2019
Dear Sir/Madam. If I am creator, with 10 thousand subscribtions and I'm talking to my teenager community, and I marking here, it isn't for kids, but I'm doing artwork, cartoon animations, and even gaming videos from Minecraft and describing my audience of "twelve" or "nine years old" for jokes to my strong bond community, do I need to be aware of a fee in the beginning of 2020 january? It can wipe out my entire family and destroy everything I've done for 6 years. Sincerely, Joseph
FTC Staff
December 26, 2019

In reply to by Joseph

This blog explains that if the content on your channel is directed to children, and if the channel owner, or someone on the owner's behalf (for example, an ad network), collects personal information from viewers of that content (for example, through a persistent identifier that tracks a user to serve interest-based ads), the channel is covered by COPPA.

The blog can help you decide if your content is directed to children under age 13.

Guest
November 23, 2019
i went to make my channel for kids
Guest
November 23, 2019
Hello, I made videos with my children.and beside I made videos about travel and event, information about things etc, thank u
Asi Lyn
November 23, 2019
What do I do if the video is for all ages like its neutral?
Sante pa&#039;m
November 23, 2019
Hi I don't have any problem with COPPA But I would like to know how i can make that.if my content video made for kids or not. My channel talk about health specially for women and men.so I can say that my content video not made for kids thx.
Guest
November 23, 2019
I personally think that this whole thing is a bad Idea because a lot of people watch YouTube who are younger and will probably not have any thing to do on their free time and so many peoples lives will be ruined
A worried YouT…
November 23, 2019
Please don't go through with this, it will ruin everything youtube has built! Please reconsider
Sahil
November 23, 2019
Why in Afghanistan we don’t have a YouTube partner
Guest
November 23, 2019
I think this will really be hard for some people to understand but my question is why don’t u guys make us choose the age of people should watch our videos and save it like my videos are about gaming and in my creator studio it says my viewers are 13 and above while others it says are 18-24 and other it says are 50-60 does it mean my videos are made for kids ?
Derin Alemdar
November 23, 2019
Hi FTC, What if any video on YouTube has swearing or other obscene scenes even if it also includes games, cartoon figures or others that are kid friendly content?
Daz Garcia
November 23, 2019
I understand very well that children, if they are very young under 13, cannot see, for example, violence or something sexual, but it must be understood that children will not always be children, they will grow up and see what they want when adolescence begins but it is the responsibility of children parents, not ours because we are not children that there are even many YouTubers who are not children but are not bad after all, like playing video games that do not express anything bad and children are not all friendly, some are rude because they were the parents of how they raised him in fact there is something that I realized that there are children who have already realized this whole matter and do not like the idea because they like video games, parodies, action videos because they are already growing so they will not be children forever, you have to take that into account, there are also intelligent children which must be taken into account which show that they are growing. We, as YouTubers, are not to blame for irresponsible parents and we understand it but they are their problems and we are not children to be pretending that everything is butterfly which children must also mature because reality is so but let's not be selfish just for money , we must understand that not everything is for children but we do not intend to hurt them because they grow up every day and learn new things but there are children who do not like this law because they restrict what they like and you do not have the right To tell us what things we should like or not because we have different, we all think different and that is the problem that puts us before all this.
Wayne Johnson
November 23, 2019
So here's a hypothetical for you. A channel directed exclusively at babies, literally 0-1 year olds. These babies cannot use the device to browse to the content. It is their parents and carers that are the 'users' in this case, correct? If such a channel could provide empirical evidence in the form of a survey of the audience that proves that the overwhelming majority of the audience that are 'in control' of the device while viewing the content are adults, is this channel illegally collecting personal data from children?
Guest
November 23, 2019
Please can u tell us how this applys to family vloggers who will vlog days out and hoildays these arent really aimed at kids but will watch
Sk golam
November 23, 2019
YouTube is very beautiful platforms and my passion for youtuber
Winstone Vanderheim
November 27, 2019
I do not believe that this is a valid way to deal with Youtube's child advertising. Youtube is a platform filled with millions of content creators where it is impossible to hand sift through it's contents to find anything that violates it's new laws. It depends on A.I. to do the heavy lifting, and that A.I. isn't exactly as reliable as they would have you believe. If an A.I. has the ability to instantly fine anybody up to $42,530 dollars per video, it has the ability to wipe out families and companies over night, sending economies across the globe to come crashing down as a large amount of money, presumably in the billions would disappear from the bank accounts of thousands over night. And just imagine the legal battles that would take place, court rooms would be filled with nothing but creators trying to get appeals in order to stay out of the poverty line. It's not a good idea to fine an anonymous person on the internet any amount of money if it means sending thousands into debt.
Elliander Eldridge
December 03, 2019

In reply to by Winstone Vanderheim

It really is the worst strategy. If YouTube was simply required to ensure that any ad targeted at children didn't have tracking enabled that would solve it. I mean think about it: The REAL issue is that ads are targeting children and following them across the internet, right? That's further reaching than YouTube. That includes Google search. Nothing outlined in this policy would go far enough to address that, but ads directed at children are easier to identify. On television an ad can target children because the children are not tracked, so if this was the approach it wouldn't matter if your content targeted children. The only remaining issue are the comments, but literally every streaming site has them, but if YouTube allowed parents to create sub accounts they can choose to allow children to comment or not satisfying COPPA. The issue really is that I don't have any control over any of this, but am to be held responsible. Worse, my tax dollars will go to policing the internet instead of just holding Google responsible to common sense standards.
Azonerath
November 23, 2019
How are channels supposed to be compliant if they don't have control over their audience? the intended audience isn't necessarily the audience they get and content creators may make their content 'child-friendly' but it's still not always meant for children. The internet isn't something you can make broad laws on when it's so nuanced and so many people's lives depend on it. People need to learn how the internet really works before they make changes that affect the entirety of the world.
Guest
November 23, 2019
Video creators can’t control what kids watch, I don’t understand why we’re getting punished for something that we have no control over. There are gaming and unboxing videos that are not kid friendly at all, but you guys say it is, so it is. We have no control and there is nothing we can do about the subject at hand. Please read this and consider looking into it more. Thank you!
John Davis
November 23, 2019
This has gone way too far. My apologies, but this idea is probably one of the worst ideas I have heard of so far. A lot of people who gain money from making youtube videos are going to be affected. A lot of lives are going to be ruined. Eventually YouTube is going to start losing a lot of users. Most of the kids on YouTube don't watch kid-friendly things. Instead, they actually watch whatever they want. It's not YouTube's fault for this. Parents are at fault. Parents are the one who allow their kids to do whatever they want on YouTube. I hope you make some changes and don't go too crazy on this. This is just going to repeat itself on other video-sharing websites. Have a wonderful day (if you're reading this)
Halie
November 23, 2019
Thank you SO much for this. Though it still seems a little broad, it still put me at ease. So many people were freaking out about this because MANY YouTuber I watch direct their content to everyone. However, would this include those who play videogames that could be made for kids? I know plenty of people who play games like Minecraft that cuss A L O T in their videos. But thanks again! YouTube gave us all little explanations to what was made for kids and what was not. But please make this better understandable for those who don't understand!!
Matteo Dorado
November 23, 2019
This is an unenforceable litigious nightmare that really only benefits Disney. The FTC can't seem to put a dent in the billions of monthly robocalls we collectively receive, but they apparently have no problem swiftly destroying the livelihood of thousands of content creators. Bravo.
Tavare Rice
November 23, 2019
Since the definition of child attractive it's so broad, I think that before people are fined, they should get a warning and maybe about 30 to 60 days to come into compliance of the COPPA law. There are several content creators that have characters that children can like and action figures/toys in their videos but they are not targeting children under 13. But the videos are still for a general audience because YouTube wants us to make our videos family friendly and not have a bunch of violence and cursing. Or because these people have family who watch them and they don't want to be disrespectful. A lot of people aren't intentionally breaking the law so a warning would be awesome. Some of my friends who are grown adults who has been sharing their geek (Nerd, pop culture) life with the world and have over 3,000 videos. When I found those videos I never for once thought that only kids under 13 year old would be watching them.
Yarn one
November 23, 2019
How about just stop the data mining all together so that we can stop being marketing targets. That would resolve this whole thing. I don't think this covers the crafting community where things are made for kids by adults, so making toys and dolls, where does that fall?? Teaching a craft, where does that fall?? Specifics please.
Guest
November 26, 2019

In reply to by Yarn one

Because if they stop the data mining altogether neither creators nor YouTube will make enough money to stay in business. So either you pay for the service or get it for free in exchange for your data being collected.
Jocelyn crown
November 27, 2019

In reply to by Yarn one

I think that my content is made for kids cause I’m funny and I don’t cuss and if the song I’m using cusses I blurt it out or I just don’t make my avatar say it
Angel
November 23, 2019
I want to know if you are clear that Japanese anime is not childish content at all, and don't confuse it
H. Levingstone
November 26, 2019

In reply to by Angel

Unfortunately the wording is too ambiguous. For example my 10 year old nephew watches painting videos not aimed at children but interesting to children ... he enjoys them and has improved his painting skills dramatically! There are many crafting and hobby channels on YouTube that are interesting to children but not aimed at them eg. Crafting (patchwork, scrapbooking, painting etc.) some children may like to watch but which do involve needles, varnish etc. Also game playing or collectibles. There should be an option like 'Mixed audience/parental advisory'. Surely parents have to take some responsibility for their under 13 year old children. If this goes ahead in it's present form You Tube will have no family friendly content and will become a cesspool of extreme 'adult' content!
Arlis Nevarez
November 23, 2019
Please don't let this go through, it has so many flaws. It will only hurt everyone.
Guest
November 23, 2019
Coppa is way too strict and vague it needs to be repealed or updated immediately
Ruhul Amin
November 23, 2019
youtube is the best of life for enjoy
Guest
November 23, 2019
The description of what is considered child content is too vague. For example I crate videos which feature model trains and not toy trains. Manufacturers of model trains such as Lionel have recommended ages of 14 & up printed on the boxes. If I go by this then my videos are not targets at kids which is 13 and under. However does the FTC define a difference between a toy and a model or even a difference between a chillds toy and adult collectible. I ran the lifetime statics on my YouTube channel and no one under 18 has viewed it. Also why disable comments on YouTube. I have mine set to approve so I screen every comment to make sure it is appropriate to show up. Why can't YouTube put a age barrier program in place so ads and data won't be retrieved by any viewers who are 13 and under? Basically the way YouTube has changed the rules the channels marked made for kids content won't be promoted, will have comments disabled and notifications removed. This has ended pretty much any channel that depends on YouTube for money or promoting a hobby.
Portland Pringle
November 23, 2019
There are tons of bright animation that include swearing and blood. Plenty of youtubers who play bright and happy games who swear and target people over 15+ so what happens to them?
Guest
November 23, 2019
Why is it that everyone seems to be ignoring the giant pink elephant in the room? There is a VERY simple solution to this issue that the FTC could enact that would protect not only those defined as "kids" under the law, but would also protect the content creators and the platforms they use as well. It falls to basic coding in the form of the "IF/THEN" and "AND/OR" lines of code. These platforms can require that to view content one must be signed in via an email address that has been verified. Most email groups, such as Google and Yahoo already require date of birth to be given when creating a new e-address. It is then a simple task for a competent coder who knows current internet protocol language to create a line or 2 of code to go something like: "IF" the email address of the viewer is less than 13 years "THEN" any cookies (or other forms of data collection) is blocked from reaching them. "AND" when said address reaches 13 years, "OR" a parental/guardian of the user of said e-address consents to them data collection it may then be allowed. Seriously people. This has been the obvious solution from the start. Why has nobody implemented it thus far?
Luke
November 23, 2019
Thank you for allowing the public to voice their thoughts on this issue because right now this law looked like it was going to eradicate a lot of YouTubers which isn't fair. But there are still unanswered questions. For example, gaming as you said is not a one size fits all group. So will it come down to the game itself or the context in which the game is being played and spoken about? As a gamer myself, I'm very worried about this and I'm sure you are just as worried as I am. I'm also glad you cleared up about animated shows not being just for kids as there are some animated shows like South Park, Family Guy, The Simpsons, etc. that are primarily for teens and adults. But what about shows that are somewhat in the middle? These shows appeal to kids yet they can have stuff in it that may not be for kids at all. Two examples of this are Teen Titans (not Teen Titans Go!) and Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu. These two shows do appeal to kids but may appeal to older audiences also. I hope you can clarify a bit more about this and hopefully come to a reasonable conclusion that doesn't destroy YouTube as a whole. Thank you and have a great day.
Václav Mach
November 23, 2019
I am still worried about channels that review, theorize, or parody about children shows or movies, like Pokemon for example. They shouldn't be punished just for using topic popular with children. Context is very important here and that's something robots on Youtube wont be able to analyze.
carl n.
November 23, 2019
I feel that the onus for advertising and management of access should not be on content creators on a shared platform. Especially one such as YouTube that has In the past inserted advertising into videos that were never intended to have any due to their mistaken belief the content had a claim by a third party. With such automated systems already mucking up creators abilities to control advertising and access to their own videos it should be the host site's responsibility to restrict access to above 13, as the original law intended instead of punishing creators who create videos that may unintentionally draw draw In 12 year olds who share interests with 15 year olds. Proof of age could and should be more strict if this is a serious issue.
Guest
November 23, 2019
i am comply here all riles & regulation under India governments
Guest
November 23, 2019
The rules are to vauge. Anything you do could be classified as family friendly even if you are doing not family friendly things. This will absolutely ruin YouTube and spme of the stock market. Please ether make your own type of youtube and make clear and direct rules or fix coppa
Guest
November 23, 2019
My videos are made for everyone it's so confusing I don't know.
Featherballs
May 10, 2020

In reply to by Guest

I really don’t know either, I posted a really short video about my birds, I was confused so I labeled it as ‘for kids’ as I don’t wanna get sued.
Pierre Sandoval
November 23, 2019
To whom it may concern, It is my opinion that the burden of COPPA should fall on the shoulders of the advertisers. It should not be on the content creators nor Youtube. For a start, content creators have no input in what advertisers have access to their content. That is between advertisers and Youtube itself. The second problem with the existing law and its outdated language. It passed before anyone had an inkling of what the internet could or would would become. The Federal Radio Commission, over time, became the FTC. Likewise, the laws governing radios and phones adapted over the course of a century. Now we must look to the current landscape and have COPPA adapt. Furthermore, children very are curious by nature. If left unsupervised, they will access all manners of subjects on the internet. The duty of protecting children from questionable content is 100% the parent's responsibility. But its not FTC's place to control parents. So regulation should fall to the companies that advertise to children instead. That said, should companies be trying to gather information on children? No. But should companies be trying to advertise to children in the first place? Of course not. A commercial advertisement serves to sell a good or service. The last time I looked, grade school children generally have zero income. Children cannot enter a legal contract or be responsible for their actions. So why advertise to them? Companies should not be advertising - targeted or otherwise, to children under the age of 13. These children are not an economic demographic. A company should not attempt to engage in commerce with a 5th grader. As long companies can market their wares at children, there will be motive to do so. And they will on any platform that will have them. In 1990, The Children’s Television Act passed. It meant to provide more educational programming while limiting advertising. Now, children's programming shouldn't 100% education, children deserve entertainment as well. But the law shouldn't have limited children's advertising. It should have eliminated it. A Youtube video can have bright colors, fun characters and catchy songs. An advertisement for a product; toys, clothes, games, food, even vitamins, should not. In closing, I ask you to consider who is behind the tracking and identifying child viewership. It's the advertisers. P. Sandoval

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