COPPA Compliance for Businesses Serving Children Online
In today’s digital world, children are spending more time online than ever before. From educational apps to gaming platforms and social media, kids under the age of 13 have interaction with endless websites and services. While this opens doorways to gaining knowledge and entertainment, it also increases vital privacy concerns.
That’s wherein COPPA Compliance comes into the picture. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. Federal regulation designed to protect children’s private information online. If your website, app, or online service collects information from children under thirteen or collects records from them, you’re legally required to observe COPPA compliance requirements.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What COPPA compliance means and why it matters.
- Who needs to comply with the law?
- COPPA compliance requirements in detail.
- A COPPA compliance checklist you can follow.
- Examples of businesses following COPPA rules successfully.
- Pros and cons of implementing COPPA compliance.
What is COPPA Compliance and Why It Matters
COPPA compliance way adhering to the guidelines set by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, a U.S. Federal law designed to protect the privacy of kids underneath 13 years old. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces COPPA, and it applies to any website, app, or online provider that collects private records from kids in the United States, regardless of where the business operates globally.
Personal information under COPPA includes:
- Full name.
- Home or email address.
- Phone number.
- Geolocation data.
- Photos, videos, or audio files containing a child’s image or voice.
- Persistent identifiers (cookies, IP addresses, device IDs) used for tracking.
In 2024 and early 2025, the FTC has elevated enforcement actions, specifically targeting apps, gaming platforms, and educational websites that fail to obtain validated parental consent before collecting children’s records. The penalties are steep, as much as $50,120 according to violation, and plenty of violations involve third-party monitoring technologies embedded in websites without proper safeguards.
COPPA compliance isn’t only a legal necessity but also a belief-constructing measure for parents and guardians. By imposing robust statistics privacy protections, corporations can avoid high-priced legal risk while demonstrating their commitment to creating a safer online environment for children.
What Kind Of Businesses Need To Follow COPPA Compliance
You must follow COPPA compliance requirements if your website, mobile app, or online service:
- It is directed toward children under the age of 13 in the United States.
- Knowingly collects personal information from children under 13, even if the primary audience is broader.
- Uses third-party plugins, analytics tools, or ad networks that collect, track, or store children’s data through your platform.
Examples of covered businesses include:
- Educational platforms for elementary schools and early learning programs.
- Kids’ gaming and entertainment apps.
- Toy brand websites with interactive features or online games.
- Social networks and community forums designed for children.
- YouTube channels or video platforms targeting a child audience.
Latest updates:
- The FTC has increased enforcement against mixed-audience platforms—sites or apps that appeal to both children and adults but fail to segment and protect children’s data separately.
- COPPA applies even if your business is based outside the U.S., as long as you have users in the United States under the age of 13.
- Companies are now expected to monitor third-party integrations (e.g., ad networks, chat tools, embedded videos) to ensure they don’t collect children’s data without proper consent.
Failing to meet these obligations can lead to significant fines, reputational damage, and restrictions on your ability to operate in the U.S. market.
Enhanced COPPA Compliance Requirements
COPPA compliance is evolving to keep pace with how children interact online, and the FTC’s 2025 amendments reflect that shift. Here’s what’s new and important:
- Expanded Definition of Personal Information
The amendments now include biometric identifiers, like fingerprints, facial recognition information, and voiceprints, alongside standard identifiers such as Social Security numbers. This broadens the scope of information that is desired to be protected.
- Stricter Parental Consent Rules
You have to obtain separate, verifiable parental consent for sharing a child’s personal data with third parties, particularly for targeted advertising. Parents must also explicitly furnish permission for fact collection and non-compulsory fact utilization.
- Enhanced Security Programs Required
The rule now mandates a written data protection program tailored to kids’ statistics. This includes annual risk assessments, targeted personnel, testing safeguards, and controls when sharing data with third parties.
- Tighter Data Retention Policies Children’s personal information must now be kept only for as long as necessary to fulfill its purpose, with detailed data deletion procedures in place.
- Broader Metrics for Child-Directed Content Determining whether a site or app is “child-directed” now takes into account marketing materials, user reviews, and peer site demographics, not just design or stated audience.
- Compliance Deadlines The amended COPPA Rule became effective on June 23, 2025. Covered operators must achieve full compliance by April 22, 2026, unless they are part of an FTC-approved safe harbor program with different timelines.
Why These Updates Matter
The trendy COPPA modifications mirror developing worries over children’s privacy amidst new technology like biometrics and targeted advertising and marketing. With stricter consent policies, safety requirements, and broader definitions, it’s clear the FTC expects businesses to adopt proactive, obvious, and robust statistics practices.
COPPA Compliance Checklist for Businesses
Following COPPA isn’t just about avoiding fines; it’s about creating a safer, more transparent digital environment for children. The FTC’s 2025 COPPA amendments have added new requirements, so your compliance checklist should reflect these updates.
| Step | Action | Purpose | Latest 2025 Update |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Identify if your site/app targets children under 13 |
Determine if COPPA applies. |
Include “mixed-audience” sites and apps that appeal to both kids and adults; segment and protect children’s data separately. |
2 |
Draft a child-focused privacy policy |
Clearly inform parents about data collection. |
Must be concise, easy to read, and include biometric data if collected. |
3 |
Implement parental consent methods |
Ensure compliance before data collection. |
Consent must now be verifiable and separate for data sharing with third parties. |
4 |
Provide parental access to data |
Allow review, changes, or deletion. |
Parents must be notified of any policy changes that affect their child’s data. |
5 |
Secure children’s personal information |
Prevent data breaches and misuse. |
Maintain a written information security program and conduct annual risk assessments. |
6 |
Limit data retention |
Store data only as long as needed. |
Implement documented deletion procedures and timelines for children’s data. |
7 |
Update privacy policy regularly |
Reflect changes in data practices. |
Update immediately when adding new third-party integrations or tracking tools. |
Real-Life COPPA Compliance Success Stories
Looking at real-world examples helps illustrate how different companies approach COPPA compliance while still delivering engaging and safe experiences for children online. Here are some notable cases:
1. YouTube Kids
In 2019, YouTube and its parent company, Google, paid a $170 million FTC fine for violating COPPA by collecting children’s data without parental consent. This resulted in the launch of YouTube Kids, a separate COPPA-compliant platform featuring:
- Restricted data tracking — no personalized ads based on viewing history.
- Parental control settings — allowing parents to manage watch time and block videos.
- Curated, age-appropriate content vetted for safety.
By 2025, YouTube Kids will have also introduced stricter machine-learning filters to detect and remove inappropriate content faster.
2. Duolingo for Kids
Duolingo’s children’s learning app applies strict parental consent protocols before account creation. The platform:
- Limits the collection of personal information to what’s strictly necessary.
- Provides full parental access to a child’s learning data.
- Removes unnecessary identifiers to prevent third-party tracking.
As of 2024, Duolingo has expanded its parent dashboards to include detailed reports on learning progress while maintaining zero targeted advertising for under-13 users.
3. LEGO
LEGO has long prioritized safety and compliance in its child-directed websites. Its approach includes:
- A child-friendly privacy policy written in simple language.
- Clear and easy-to-complete parental consent forms.
- A safe online environment with moderated games and community features.
LEGO enhanced its COPPA compliance efforts by blocking all third-party trackers on its kids’ pages and implementing automatic content moderation to filter inappropriate user-generated content.
Key Benefits of COPPA Compliance for Online Businesses
Following COPPA compliance requirements not only keeps you on the right side of the law but also brings significant commercial benefits. FTC tightening enforcement and parents becoming more privacy-aware, these benefits are more precious than ever:
1. Legal Protection
Compliance with COPPA allows you to avoid luxurious FTC fines, which can reach as much as $50,120 per violation. The cutting-edge amendments require stronger parental consent verification and elevated definitions of private statistics (along with biometrics), making proactive compliance vital to prevent legal disputes.
2. Brand Trust
Parents are more selective about the websites and apps their children use. By sincerely demonstrating a commitment to children’s protection and privacy, you build an honest reputation that encourages long-term consumer loyalty. According to a 2024 parental survey, 78% of parents said they prefer brands that are clear about record safety practices for children.
3. Competitive Edge
As COPPA enforcement will become stricter, many organizations still fail to satisfy the requirements. By staying compliant, you maintain your lead ahead of the competition, which risks dropping market share because of reputational harm or removal from app marketplaces. Compliance can also enhance app store scores and organic downloads for child-focused apps.
4. Ethical Responsibility
Beyond felony and financial motivations, COPPA compliance displays a genuine commitment to growing a more secure internet for young users. Ethical commercial enterprise practices resonate with today’s socially aware consumers and can beef up partnerships with schools, non-profits, and family-oriented groups.
FAQs About COPPA Compliance for Businesses
What is COPPA compliance?
COPPA compliance means following the FTC rules to protect the privacy of children under 13 when collecting personal information online.
What happens if you don’t comply?
You can face fines up to $50,120 per violation and legal action from the FTC.
How do I know if my website needs to comply?
If your site targets children under 13 or knowingly collects their personal data, you must comply.
Can third-party services cause a COPPA violation?
Yes, if they collect children’s data through your site or app, you can be held responsible.
Conclusion
COPPA compliance isn’t just a legal checkbox; it’s a commitment to creating a safer online environment for children. Following COPPA compliance requirements builds trust, protects your brand, and keeps you clear of costly legal trouble.
If your platform is on Shopify, WordPress, or Wix, integrating Accessibility Assistant for Shopify, WordPress Accessibility Assistant, or Wix Accessibility App can help make compliance and accessibility easier.
