The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) sets strict rules on how brands collect and use data from children under 13. Understanding COPPA compliance is crucial for businesses engaging digitally with young audiences. Ignoring the law can lead to significant penalties and damage your company’s reputation. Are you sure your brand is responsibly protecting children’s privacy online?
Understanding COPPA Requirements for Online Privacy
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act was enacted to give parents control over information collected from their children online. COPPA applies to websites, apps, and online services directed toward children under 13 or those that knowingly collect information from them. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces this act, adapting guidelines as digital technologies evolve in 2025.
At its core, COPPA requires brands to:
- Provide clear and comprehensive privacy notices
- Obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal data from children
- Give parents the right to review and delete their child’s information
- Implement robust data security for children’s information
- Limit data collection and only retain data as long as necessary
Personal information under COPPA includes names, addresses, online contact information, screen names, geolocation, photos, and even persistent identifiers like cookies used for tracking. Staying aware of how the law defines “personal information” helps brands navigate compliance proactively.
Steps to Achieve COPPA Compliance for Brands
Achieving COPPA compliance is a continuous process involving policy, technology, and staff training. Start with a detailed audit of your digital services or products, especially those accessible or attractive to children. This self-assessment includes determining if your content is “child-directed”—a designation explained by the FTC’s recent guidance updates.
- Assess Your Audience: Review your user demographics and content. If children under 13 are a primary or secondary audience, your brand likely falls under COPPA’s scope.
- Update Privacy Policies: Clearly state what data you collect, how it is used, and parental rights regarding this information. Transparency builds trust and fulfills legal obligations.
- Establish Parental Consent Mechanisms: Implement age gates and obtain verifiable parental consent before any personal data collection, using approved verification methods such as credit card verification, government ID checks, or signed parental consent forms.
- Educate Employees: Regular staff training ensures everyone understands responsibilities around children’s data, from product developers to customer service teams.
- Document and Retain Records: Maintain records of parental consents, privacy notices, and data retention policies to demonstrate good faith compliance during any FTC inquiry.
Brands that integrate compliance into their workflow minimize legal risks and set themselves up as leaders in family-friendly digital environments.
Parental Consent and Transparent Data Collection
Securing verifiable parental consent is the cornerstone of COPPA compliance for online services aimed at children. Different activities require different degrees of consent. For example, collecting an email for newsletter subscriptions might need a lower level of verification, but collecting geolocation or photos requires stricter checks, such as a signed consent form or video call verification.
Be explicit in your communications with parents:
- Describe exactly what personal data will be gathered from children
- Specify how the data will be used or shared
- Clearly outline parents’ rights to access, modify, or delete their child’s information
As of 2025, best practices recommended by privacy advocacy groups include providing parents with a simple support channel and a dashboard for managing their children’s data. Transparency not only promotes trust but can also reduce your exposure to regulatory complaints.
COPPA Compliance in App and Website Design
Effective COPPA compliance is not just a legal box-ticking exercise—it must be woven into your site and app design from the outset. A “privacy by design” approach enables you to limit unnecessary data collection, avoid dark patterns, and ensure child-safe experiences.
- Minimize Data Collection: Gather only the information necessary for your platform’s core features.
- Secure Data Transmission and Storage: Employ SSL/TLS encryption, regular vulnerability testing, and strong access controls to protect data.
- Disable Third-Party Trackers: Many analytics and advertising plugins are not COPPA compliant. Use only child-safe, privacy-first tools for children’s digital experiences.
- Accessible Privacy Notices: Keep privacy information prominent, easy to read, and age-appropriate for both children and their parents.
- User Empowerment: Allow parents to review, delete, or opt out of further data collection with user-friendly design features.
For brands making frequent updates, evaluate every new feature or partnership through a COPPA lens. Mention in your changelogs if any privacy-relevant adjustments have been made to inform parents and regulators.
Risks of Non-Compliance and Industry Case Studies
The risks of failing to comply with COPPA are substantial. The FTC has the authority to impose multimillion-dollar fines, mandate comprehensive data audits, demand deletion of improperly collected data, and order public disclosure of privacy practices. Reputational harm often eclipses financial penalties, with negative headlines deterring families from engaging with your brand.
In 2024, a well-known children’s gaming platform faced a record $25 million fine after failing to secure adequate parental consent and exposing children’s chat content to external partners. Not only did they incur financial loss, but their user base dropped significantly in the following quarter, illustrating the direct business impact of non-compliance.
Brands that respond swiftly, openly disclose any privacy incidents to parents, and take corrective action have the best chance of restoring public trust. Proactive compliance efforts, such as joining industry privacy alliances or seeking FTC Safe Harbor certification, set you apart as a responsible corporate citizen.
Future-Proofing Your Brand with COPPA Best Practices
Privacy laws like COPPA are subject to change as new digital platforms and data technologies emerge. Staying ahead involves more than meeting today’s minimum requirements. Brands should monitor ongoing FTC updates and participate in industry discussions on children’s privacy. Subscribe to regulatory alerts and dedicate internal resources for ongoing compliance reviews.
- Invest in Privacy Tools: Use automated parental consent platforms, data mapping, and audit solutions to ease compliance burdens.
- Develop a Culture of Privacy: Foster organizational awareness at every level, encouraging employees to flag potential privacy risks early.
- Monitor Global Changes: If you operate internationally, be aware that other countries have similar or even stricter children’s privacy laws that could apply to your brand beyond COPPA.
Forward-thinking brands see privacy as a strategic priority—protecting young users is both a legal requirement and an ethical responsibility that strengthens customer loyalty for the long term.
FAQs about The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
- What types of businesses must comply with COPPA?
Any website, app, or online service directed at children under 13 or that knowingly collects data from this age group must comply. This includes social networks, gaming sites, educational platforms, and connected toys. - How can a brand verify parental consent under COPPA?
Approved methods include using a parent’s credit card for verification, government-issued ID checks, signed consent forms, and video calls. Low-risk activities may allow less stringent consent approaches. - What are the penalties for violating COPPA?
Penalties include significant monetary fines, corrective action mandates, data deletion orders, and public disclosure of violations, as enforced by the FTC. - Can children provide consent for themselves?
No. COPPA requires verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children under 13. - Does COPPA apply if my site or app just collects analytics data?
Yes, if analytics data includes persistent identifiers (such as cookies) that can track users over time and across websites, COPPA applies.
Complying with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act is essential for brands reaching young audiences in 2025. Proactive compliance, clear parental communication, and privacy-first design not only reduce legal risks but also earn family trust. Make data protection for children a top priority—your reputation and business growth depend on it.