Many individuals below the age of 13 are currently using social media sites.  Many do so with permission from thier parents.

The reason that most social media platforms have set 13 years as their cut-off point is a US law called Coppa (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act), which dates back to 1998.

It mandated that online services would have to seek "verifiable parental consent" from younger users and would then be restricted as to how they could use the data.

Many apps subsequently decided it would not be worth their while.​​

It is important to remind everyone of the significance of these age limits in an effort to keep students safe online. 

Please remember that almost all social media sites have a minimum age restriction of 13.  This includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr, Reddit, Snapchat, Kik, Youtube, Vine, WhatsApp, and many more.  Help keep students safe online by monitoring their social media interactions and reinforcing these age restrictions.