Under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, what is the age limit for children to be directly regulated by the FTC?

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998 establishes specific regulations aimed at protecting the online privacy of children. Under this act, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for enforcing its regulations, which specifically apply to children under the age of 13. This means that websites and online services directed towards children must obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children, reflecting the act's intent to safeguard children's privacy online.

In this context, 13 is the age threshold set by COPPA under which children are directly protected by the FTC regulations. The focus is on preventing the exploitation of children's data and ensuring that their internet experiences are safe and secure. This unique age limit serves as a benchmark for compliance among online entities that cater to or collect information from children.