IMPORTANT: Regarding under-13s and COPPA.

Started by Nihilego August 21st, 2013 12:31 PM
  • 14528 views
  • 139 replies

Nihilego

[color=#95b4d4]ユービーゼロイチ パラサイト[/color]

Male
scotland
Seen September 28th, 2018
Posted March 16th, 2018
8,874 posts
12.1 Years
Hi PokéCommunity,

The PokéCommunity staff have recently been discussing our forum's stance on COPPA, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. As a website hosted in the United States of America, we are by law required to enforce this.

What this means is that we as staff are under obligation to identify any members who admit to being under the age of 13 and to request consent from a parent or guardian of such members for their use of this website or, failing that, to terminate their accounts. While we are aware that this has the potential to impact many of our members, we are required to take these actions by law.

What this entails for our users is as follows;
  • for unregistered members under the age of 13 - our registration page will no longer allow you to register if you are under the age of 13. Please do not attempt to bypass this. For your privacy, you are not required to publicly display your age after registration.
  • for registered members over the age of 13 - you need not do anything; even if you are still considered a child in your country, COPPA does not apply to you.
  • for registered members under the age of 13 - it is very important that, should you publicly disclose your age or have had a staff member approach you due to disclosure of your age, you understand the following. If you are found to be under the age of 13, your account may be restricted. This will block you from posting or interacting with other members. In order to remove restrictions on your account, you must follow the instructions sent to you, or, once you've reached the age of 13, you may contact us.

All of this said, it is now not advisable that you regularly change your displayed birth date - especially not to one under 13. If you have any questions or concerns, you may reply to this thread or send a PM to myself or another staff member. Thanks for your understanding.

-the PokéCommunity Staff

moon

they/them
Seen 12 Hours Ago
Posted 2 Days Ago
37,443 posts
15.5 Years
Would I be safe? Just Wondering even thought Im 15. I didnt see anything about registered members currently in the US that is over the age of 13.
Yes. You are safe and won't have to do anything. You are not considered a "child" in the US in the matter at hand.
paired with Ivysaur
Seen 2 Weeks Ago
Posted January 2nd, 2021
1,549 posts
9.9 Years
Yeah what happens if "Chuck Norris" is 11 and he wants to join so he gets his pal "Bruce Lee" to send in an email of saying "My son is allowed to go on your site" also what about people who just set the age to like 18 but are really 10 or something? I live in australia so does this count for me even though I am over 13?

Paige Berlitz

HAPPY SAINT PATTIES DAY

Age 25
Female
Vaniville City, Kalos
Seen July 18th, 2016
Posted July 14th, 2016
282 posts
9.7 Years
Yeah what happens if "Chuck Norris" is 11 and he wants to join so he gets his pal "Bruce Lee" to send in an email of saying "My son is allowed to go on your site" also what about people who just set the age to like 18 but are really 10 or something? I live in australia so does this count for me even though I am over 13?
The Coppa rule doesn't apply to you. Just to those who live in the United states.

Nihilego

[color=#95b4d4]ユービーゼロイチ パラサイト[/color]

Male
scotland
Seen September 28th, 2018
Posted March 16th, 2018
8,874 posts
12.1 Years
Does this mean that anyone under 13 needs to have parent proof to be on this site?
Yes, if someone is under 13 they should provide proof of parental consent for their use of this website.

Yeah what happens if "Chuck Norris" is 11 and he wants to join so he gets his pal "Bruce Lee" to send in an email of saying "My son is allowed to go on your site" also what about people who just set the age to like 18 but are really 10 or something?
Then we can't really do anything about that. We are required to enforce this to the best of our knowledge, and if someone is underage outside of our knowledge then that is out of our hands.

I live in australia so does this count for me even though I am over 13?
Yes, it applies to all users of this website due to the fact that it is hosted in the US.

The Coppa rule doesn't apply to you. Just to those who live in the United states.
No. It applies to all users of this website due to the fact that this website is hosted in the US, and thus follows American laws.

Mana

Age 31
Male
UK
Seen March 25th, 2023
Posted August 18th, 2021
10,075 posts
14.3 Years
The Coppa rule doesn't apply to you. Just to those who live in the United states.
No, it applies to all as PC is based on a US server. Doesn't matter where the individual lives, everyone on this website must be over 13.

Livewire

Male
Sunnyshore City
Seen December 3rd, 2022
Posted August 2nd, 2019
14,091 posts
13.8 Years
Our servers and whatnot being in America are therefore subject to United States legal jurisdiction, meaning anyone who seeks to use this site must be over the age of 13, unless you have parental consent. Regardless of where you may be from.

Palamon

Silence is Purple.

Age 26
he/him
Snezhnaya, Teyvat.
Online now
Posted 1 Day Ago
7,784 posts
14.3 Years
Well, at least I'm 16 now. If this rule was implemented when I was younger, I'd be in trouble. So my account is safe. Stinks that law had to clamp down on PC. =\

antemortem

rest after tomorrow

Age 24
he/they
Los Angeles
Seen June 15th, 2022
Posted June 14th, 2022
7,467 posts
11.3 Years
Well, at least I'm 16 now. If this rule was implemented when I was younger, I'd be in trouble. So my account is safe. Stinks that law had to clamp down on PC. =\
In a technical sense it's been enforced, but it wasn't all that clear up to this date so we thought it appropriate that it be announced from an official standpoint that this is a matter we are enforcing in a serious regard.
TURN ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS

Hikamaru

Age 30
Female
Australia
Seen January 24th, 2019
Posted September 4th, 2018
50,214 posts
12.2 Years
I'm 20 so I'm all but safe, but I do have prune my friends list of members who have been banned as a result of these new rules. But it's all part of keeping young children exposed to what could be inappropriate content.
Gone forever for personal reasons.
Visit my Tumblr page if you wish to contact me.

http://daikenkki.tumblr.com/

Seth Rollins

Holding on to You |-/

Age 22
Male
Nah
Seen February 27th, 2017
Posted January 16th, 2017
2,398 posts
10.4 Years
Hi i'm ExtremeGamer im banned because of this rule. This is my old account...>.<

Used it for some last vms...well i think you can ban it now :)

The Underground
Come and play mafia with us! You are always welcome.

Corvus of the Black Night

Wild Duck Pokémon

Age 30
Non-binary
With the Birds
Seen January 9th, 2015
Posted January 9th, 2015
3,416 posts
14.3 Years
I like this rule for other reasons as well. I think it makes for a mature community. I remember having to do this for a few forums ages ago when I was under 13 and it was so hard to get my dad to give consent! D:
It's not a matter of a rule, it's actually a law - that's why a lot of sites ask you for your age before registration.

Hannah

beep bop boop

Age 22
Female
Seen November 16th, 2021
Posted October 9th, 2017
1,150 posts
10.6 Years
Oh no. I won't turn 13 until next year. D:

Yes, if someone is under 13 they should provide proof of parental consent for their use of this website.
What kind of parental consent is needed? My parents know perfectly well that I go to PokéCommunity.

beep bop boop
Seen November 21st, 2014
Posted June 21st, 2014
9,522 posts
11.7 Years
Oh no. I won't turn 13 until next year. D:



What kind of parental consent is needed? My parents know perfectly well that I go to PokéCommunity.
Have them handwrite a letter stating your username and consent to be on the forum. Take a picture of the letter. From coppa 's website there doesn't seem to be an official form...

Hannah

beep bop boop

Age 22
Female
Seen November 16th, 2021
Posted October 9th, 2017
1,150 posts
10.6 Years
Have them handwrite a letter stating your username and consent to be on the forum. Take a picture of the letter. From coppa 's website there doesn't seem to be an official form...
Can I not get banned until my mom/dad gets home? They're both at work right now and I'm not ready to say goodbye yet. Pretty please? :(

beep bop boop

Sydian

fake your death.

Age 30
they/them
Georgia
Seen May 22nd, 2022
Posted November 29th, 2021
33,354 posts
15.2 Years
I don't understand why they have that law and say that parental consent is required, but they don't have a form for it. If you're going to have a way to get around it, have an actual way not just a figure it out on your own type of deal.
BURY ME SIX FEET DEEP COVER ME IN CONCRETE
twitter | twitch | youtube
Seen November 21st, 2014
Posted June 21st, 2014
9,522 posts
11.7 Years
Can I not get banned until my mom/dad gets home? They're both at work right now and I'm not ready to say goodbye yet. Pretty please? :(
You're r showing good faith in getting parental consent but if we don't have it by the end of the night we will have to unfortunately ban you.

Hannah

beep bop boop

Age 22
Female
Seen November 16th, 2021
Posted October 9th, 2017
1,150 posts
10.6 Years
Your showing good faith in getting parental consent but if we don't have it by the end of the night we will have to unfortunately ban you.
Okay, okay. But our time zones are completely different -- my mom and dad'll be home around seven or eight P.M. here in the Philippines, and it's only 9 o' clock.

beep bop boop

Sydian

fake your death.

Age 30
they/them
Georgia
Seen May 22nd, 2022
Posted November 29th, 2021
33,354 posts
15.2 Years
As long as she's getting her consent from her parents, and they already know she's here anyway and I'm assuming they'll have no problem giving her written consent when they get home, I don't see the point in threatening a time limit before we ban her, especially when you consider the time zones. She'll get it done.
BURY ME SIX FEET DEEP COVER ME IN CONCRETE
twitter | twitch | youtube
Seen November 21st, 2014
Posted June 21st, 2014
9,522 posts
11.7 Years
Unfortunately you might be banned but you can appeal when you have consent. I can't give a solid time limit or anything but you are showing good faith in getting consent so IMO I wouldn't ban you but it's not my decision.

Verifiable Parental Consent

Before collecting, using or disclosing personal information from a child, an operator must obtain verifiable parental consent from the child's parent. This means an operator must make reasonable efforts (taking into consideration available technology) to ensure that before personal information is collected from a child, a parent of the child receives notice of the operator's information practices and consents to those practices.

Until April 2002, the FTC will use a sliding scale approach to parental consent in which the required method of consent will vary based on how the operator uses the child's personal information. That is, if the operator uses the information for internal purposes, a less rigorous method of consent is required. If the operator discloses the information to others , the situation presents greater dangers to children, and a more reliable method of consent is required. The sliding scale approach will sunset in April 2002 subject to a Commission review planned for October 2001.

Corvus of the Black Night

Wild Duck Pokémon

Age 30
Non-binary
With the Birds
Seen January 9th, 2015
Posted January 9th, 2015
3,416 posts
14.3 Years
Okay, okay. But our time zones are completely different -- my mom and dad'll be home around seven or eight P.M. here in the Philippines, and it's only 9 o' clock.
If you do get banned you should still be able to contact the administrator, by emailing them the consent letter. Once that's done it might take a few days but then you should be clear.

I've had issues with my account before (not banning, getting locked out) and it takes a few days.