These laws are passed for a reason, some of those reasons are dumb, and it sucks that they affect our friends.
COPPA was passed specifically for forums like this, as well as sites like ChatRoulette and other admittedly dangerous websites as such. There are/could be people surfing these forums and other websites looking specifically for younger children. You or I may not have these intentions, but taking advantage of a child is quite a bit easier than taking advantage of adults, and I'm not talking about molestation or rape (although those are possible outcomes of interactions with adults (again, risks the parents and guardians of the minors should be deciding for their children)).
COPPA is not banning children under 13 from the internet. It is regulating their interactions with older members of these communities. A lot of you feel children are already exposed to worse material than Pokemon battles, but it isn't about the site's material or the nature of the community. Children WILL be exposed to inappropriate and vulgar material unless laws like COPPA prevent it.
I pose this question to you: Would you rather have to get parental consent (note that this isn't "Fine, my kid can go on this site", clearance, this is, "Yes, I understand my child my be exposed to older kids, or even adults, and I accept the risks and consequences of their actions) to access websites like Youtube, Reddit, and other forums websites which preserve the right of Free Speech, meaning that ANY form of unmoderated vulgarity can and will arise there. Or would you like a response to such vulgarity? Something to protect children from the internet, which is far and away the least restricted entity in the world, ever.
Again, THIS DOES NOT BAN CHILDREN FROM THE INTERNET. It's a measure of PREVENTION to help ensure that they are not exposed to content and people that their parent/guardians would otherwise forbid them from observing or taking part in. There are ways to circumvent this, but there are also ways to get around just about every rule or regulation that has or will ever exist. That doesn't make the law wrong or useless, merely like every other. You can break it, and, though I am currently unaware of the punishment associated with breaking the law, it is like every other, not cruel or unusual.
It is very difficult to explain this in a post, rather than through words, so I'll leave it at that. If you would like me to elaborate on my opinion, feel free to VM, PM, or find me on the server.