Privacy Laws to Protect Children
CIPA & COPPA Laws
Ever wonder why the standard age for signing up for a social media account begins at the age of thirteen? Acts such as the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA) and the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) were created to protect the personal information and privacy of children younger than thirteen years old.
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COPPA and CIPA
The Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA) is a federal law developed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). COPPA grants parents control over information collection concerning children under 13 on websites and online services, requiring websites to abstain from gathering personal data such as names or email addresses.
The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was enacted by Congress and aims to regulate children's exposure to harmful online content. CIPA imposes regulations on schools receiving discounts through the E-rate program to have protections in place.
The requirements CIPA imposes are
- Implement an internet safety policy outlining measures to protect students from harmful online content and blocking or filtering harmful content.
- Monitor students' online activities to ensure compliance with the safety policy.
- Educate students on appropriate online behavior and safe internet usage.
In summary, COPPA prohibits the collection of private data of children under 13 years old, while CIPA imposes regulations on certain schools, requiring them to have filtering and blocking software installed on their computers.
Do these acts really work?
From an educator's and parent's perspective, I don't believe these acts work as intended. While COPPA grants parents control over the collection of information about children under 13 years old, how many parents actually take the time to read privacy policies and terms of conditions? I recently wrote a blog about the terms of service of Pinterest, and I admit I had an account without knowing what I actually agreed to.
Secondly, what's to stop children younger than 13 years old from simply inputting a different birth year to create an account? I agree with danah boyd's statement that "on the internet, every child is 14". When I was teaching I had students 9-10 years old with TikTok accounts and Snap Chat accounts many of whom created accounts on their own and others with parent permission.
CIPA requires schools to have filtering and monitoring software on their computers. However, it does not specify requirements for devices that students take home. This could lead students to access inappropriate content at home if their usage is not monitored.
What can be done?
Educators and librarians can play a crucial role in educating families and students about privacy and safety. Additionally, policymakers could consider updating CIPA to include guidelines for devices taken home by students, ensuring consistent protection both in and out of the classroom. To further enhance online safety for children, communities can foster parental involvement through educational workshops and resources.
Collaboration with technology companies to strengthen age verification methods and enforce age restrictions on social media platforms is essential. Schools should update policies to address the use of technology both inside and outside the classroom.
Additional Resources:
I completely agree that choosing your age is just teaching kids to learn to lie. It's probably even easier now that you can say you were born in 2000 and know you can be not only over 12 but also over 18. 2000 is easy to remember and not hard to calculate. Not working in schools or having kids I forget that there are iPads or tablets that kids may take home. Not only is it harder to add restrictions but it's harder to make sure nothing is slipping through. Not sure I have a solution besides making sure that internet safety is taught well and frequently. Also updating policies is important. Working it libraries revisiting and updating policies helps keep staff on top of things and address potential issues.
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ReplyDeleteHi Jasmine,
ReplyDeleteI agree about parents not reading the terms of service. I admit, I never read the terms of service before signing up for accounts either. It would be interesting to do the dissection of the terms of service project with students or even at a parent group. I also agree about tech companies finding a way to enforce age restrictions, although I'm sure there would be a way around it. I have had students younger than 13 on apps and websites. Sometimes there has been online bullying on those apps with students younger than 13. I wonder how social media websites monitor bullying or hate speech without someone reporting it? I heard of this social media website for kids called ZigaZoo. It apparently does not allow commenting but allows for kids to share content. It is monitored by real people. I wonder if it will ever catch on?
https://zigazoo.com
Hello Jasmine,
ReplyDeleteDo you ever wonder why COPPA and CIPA chose the minimum age to be 13 years old? I sometimes wonder, because there are students who are younger than 13 years old that are very tech savvy and have access to the internet and might even have their own cell phones already. And I agree with your comment, many parents don’t take the time to read privacy policies and terms of conditions. I think parents need to be educated on the importance of reading these policies because their children’s personal information and safety can be at risk. I also think that parents have to take responsibility for what they’re children are doing with their electronic devices at home. They need to be vigilant and take all the necessary precautions to ensure their students’ are being safe and responsible online. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jasmine! That's a really good point about children knowing their way around technology - even if they don't know right off the bat, they're quick to learn shortcuts around age of consent, firewalls, etc.
ReplyDeleteLaws are helpful but they're more of a stepping stone. Parents/guardians, teachers, and administrators have to share the responsibility in promoting and ensuring online safety.