Think kids’ websites are just about bright colors and cartoon characters? Think again. Designing for children online is a balancing act. How do you make a WordPress site fun and engaging while keeping it safe? What you need is to design and develop COPPA-compliant website that fits your portal right into these safety bills.
COPPA, or the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, sets rules for websites aimed at kids under 13. It’s not just a legal box to tick. It’s a guide to building better sites.
Want to create a website kids will love and parents will trust? Read this article where we explore what makes a great kids’ site and how COPPA helps you get there.
Contents
ToggleAn Overview of COPPA
COPPA stands for the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act. As the name suggests, the law specifically protects the personal information of children under the age of 13 and regulates how it is collected by apps, websites, and other online platforms. COPPA was first enacted in 1998, became effective in 2000, and an amended rule was published and put into effect in 2013. Violating the rules can result in penalties of up to $43,280 per violation.
Key Requirements for Website Operators
According to the Federal Trade Commission, operators covered by the Rule must adhere to the following requirements:
Post a Privacy Policy
When you design & develop COPPA compliant website, it must have a clear and comprehensive online privacy policy that outlines their practices regarding the collection of personal information from children.
Check our’s as a reference.
Parental Notice and Consent
Operators are required to provide direct notice to parents and obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal information from children, with some limited exceptions.
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Parental Choice Regarding Information Use
In case you design & develop COPPA compliant website, parents must be given the option to consent to the collection and internal use of their child’s information while prohibiting its disclosure to third parties. If disclosure is integral to the site’s operation, this must be clearly communicated to the parents.
Parental Access to Information
Parents should have the ability to access their child’s personal information to review it and/or request its deletion.
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Prevention of Further Data Collection
Parents must have the opportunity to prevent further use or collection of their child’s personal information.
Data Confidentiality and Security
Operators must ensure the confidentiality, security, and integrity of the information collected from children. Reasonable steps should be taken to release such information only to parties capable of maintaining its confidentiality and security.
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Data Retention and Deletion
Personal information collected from a child should only be retained as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected. Operators must take reasonable measures to protect against unauthorized access or use when deleting the information.
Limiting Data Collection
Children’s participation in online activities should not be conditioned on providing more personal information than is reasonably necessary for participation.
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Understanding Personal Information, or Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
When you design & develop COPPA compliant website, it classifies a wide range of data as personal information or personally identifiable information (PII).
This includes:
- First and last name;
- Home or other physical address, including street name and city or town name;
- Online contact information;
- A screen or user name that functions as online contact information;
- Telephone number;
- Social security number;
- Persistent identifier that can recognize a user over time and across different websites or online services;
- A photograph, video, or audio file containing a child’s image or voice;
- Geolocation information sufficient to identify street name and city or town name;
- Information concerning the child or the child’s parents that the operator collects online from the child and combines with an identifier described above.
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Verifiable Parental Consent
It’s also important to note that, before any personal information as defined above can be collected, verifiable parental consent must be obtained.
This means that even publishing a child’s username to a public leaderboard with their high score can be a violation of COPPA if proper consent is not obtained.
Key Considerations for Developing COPPA-Adherent Websites
Gone are the days when websites could collect data from kids without a care. Now, if you’re building a site for children under 13, COPPA compliance isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must. Why? When you design & develop COPPA compliant website, it protects kids’ privacy and keeps your business out of hot water. Plus, parents are more likely to trust (and let their kids use) a site that takes privacy seriously.
Create a Clear, Easy-to-Find Privacy Policy That Parents Can Actually Understand
Your privacy policy is like a contract with parents. Make it count. Put it where everyone can see it. When you have to to design & develop COPPA compliant website. write it in plain English—no lawyer speak allowed. Explain how you’ll collect and use kids’ info. Don’t forget to spell out what rights parents have. They should know they can check, delete, or say no to their child’s data being collected.
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Tell Parents What’s Up Before You Collect Any Info
No sneaky data collection when you are to design & develop COPPA compliant website. Before you ask a kid for any personal details, give their parents a heads-up. Send them a direct notice. Keep it simple. Tell them what info you want and why. Explain how they can say yes (or no). And make it clear—if they don’t agree, you won’t collect the data. Period.
Get Real, Verifiable Consent from Parents (and Make Sure It’s Actually from Parents)
Getting a parent’s OK is crucial. But how do you know it’s really the parent giving the green light? You’ve got options when it comes to design & develop COPPA compliant website. Use a form, set up a toll-free number, or ask for a copy of their ID. Some sites even use video calls or payment systems to verify. Pick a method that works for your site and your users.
Keep Kids’ Data Under Lock and Key (Digital Edition)
Once you have a child’s info, treat it like gold. Keep it safe. Only share it with people who absolutely need it and can keep it secure. And don’t hold onto it forever. Once you don’t need the data anymore, get rid of it safely. Think of it as spring cleaning for your servers.
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Make Your App Store Listings Crystal Clear About Kid-Friendliness
If you’re to start an app after you design and develop a COPPA-compliant website, both Apple and Google want to know if it’s for kids. They have special rules for child-friendly apps: No behavioral ads, only kid-appropriate content. You might need to use age groups like 0-5, 6-8, and 9-11. Being upfront about your app’s audience helps everyone—stores, parents, and you.
Give Parents the Power to Review and Delete Their Kid’s Data
Parents should be in the driver’s seat when it comes to their child’s info. Set up a way for them to see what data you have. Let them delete it if they want. And if they say “no more,” respect that. Stop collecting new data and remove what you have. It’s all about giving parents control.
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Parting Thoughts: Risks of COPPA Non-Compliance
In conclusion, let’s shine a spotlight on a crucial aspect for you to design & develop COPPA compliant website that often gets overlooked. It’s the risks of non-compliance. While we’ve explored how to build a COPPA-friendly site, it’s equally important to understand what’s at stake if you don’t.
? Financial Hit: The FTC means business. Fines can reach $43,280 per violation. Each child affected? That’s a separate violation. Do this math: 100 kids’ data mishandled = potential $4,328,000 fine. Ouch.
? Reputation Nosedive: Word spreads fast. One privacy slip-up can send parents running. They’ll tell other parents. Your site? It becomes the one to avoid.
⚖️ Legal Nightmare: Regulators knocking at your door? Lawyers on speed dial? Possible lawsuits? Say goodbye to your peace of mind and hello to sleepless nights.
? Team Trouble: Your staff isn’t immune. Developers, designers, marketers – they could face personal fallout. That’s not a good look on anyone’s resume.
? App Store Exile: Apple and Google play hardball with COPPA violators. One misstep and poof! Your app vanishes from their stores. Good luck bouncing back from that.
? Trust Betrayal: This is the real kicker. Kids and parents trust you. Break that trust? It’s not just bad for business. It’s ethically wrong.
Cutting COPPA corners might seem tempting, but the risks far outweigh any short-term gains. Build it right, keep it safe, and watch your site become a go-to destination for kids and a trusted resource for parents. That’s the real win in the world of children’s websites.