Help--frustrating Gmail issue

[citykid]

My 12-year-old daughter has used a Gmail account for a couple of years, both to communicate with friends and for school. I set it up for her (and monitor it to make sure it is used appropriately). The other day something came up that required her to enter her birthday and when she did so, the account was disabled because she is "under 13". I don't recall reading about any age restrictions when we set up the account and can't find anything about whether there is any way for a parent to give approval for under-13s (as I understand there is with Facebook). I was told by a Google person I was able to reach that there is no way to contact Gmail to ask--anyone have any suggestions for reinstating her account?

Thanks for any help.

[Politburo]

Frequently Asked Questions about Google Account and Age Requirements - Accounts Help

[loveisnoise]

Looks like you'll have to teach her to lie if you want her to have an account. That could be a slippery slope that eventually leads to delinquency and other serious behavioral issues.

[mixiboi]

Sadly, this is because of Google +. Google had to change the TOS when Google + came around due to the social media "Must be above an age (13)" to have a account issue. This was in effect put on ALL Google Services.


It sucks. But its all about COPPA:

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Which is why both Google + and Facebook(and others) do not allow under 13.

Yahoo and MS are COPPA compliant, so you can always try Ymail(Yahoo) or Hotmail(MS) for her until next year when she is 13.

[citykid]

Thanks for the helpful responses. Facebook, at least, allows parents to give permission to kids under 13 (or so I have heard--we have told our daughter she must wait until she is 13 to get a Facebook account). But I will definitely look into the Yahoo and Hotmail options in the meantime.

[mixiboi]

Thanks for the helpful responses. Facebook, at least, allows parents to give permission to kids under 13 (or so I have heard--we have told our daughter she must wait until she is 13 to get a Facebook account). But I will definitely look into the Yahoo and Hotmail options in the meantime.

Facebook does not, it would mean they would have to be COPPA compliant, and Zuckerburg doesn't like it.

Facebook denies plans to open up site to under-13s - Telegraph

[citykid]

Interesting. Other parents have told me that they gave "permission" for their kids to get Facebook accounts--I guess that means they gave permission for their kids to lie about their ages!

[mixiboi]

That is pretty much it. Facebook isn't as hard on age checking then Google is....

ITs also why you can pretty much see 14 year olds half naked on Facebook in the darkest part....

[loveisnoise]

Well if she is under 13 then, she will have to tell lie while making an account. Because, there is no harm in doing this because you have mean with the account. So, just chill and have your time.

Spoken like a true convicted pedobear.

[govtstatistic]

I believe netnanny is still free. about reinstating your account I am not sure. they may still accept you
take it from the official fed employee lovely IS
the official bugerer pervert of the internet
being paid & WORKING HARD FOR YOUR TAX DOLLARS