Google: NO Kids Allowed

[Localonthe8s]

That's right, according to this article here Google and it's service planned to disable access to anyone under 18 soon because a binding contract has to be formed. Full article here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13739_3-9902548-46.html

yes i know its from 2008 but kinda scary to see Google doing this if ever..Thoughts?

[hen7713]

It already is in effect
http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS
2.3 clearly states it.

2.3 You may not use the Services and may not accept the Terms if (a) you are not of legal age to form a binding contract with Google, or (b) you are a person barred from receiving the Services under the laws of the United States or other countries including the country in which you are resident or from which you use the Services.

[TWCToday]

That's right, according to this article here Google and it's service will disable access to anyone under 18 soon because a binding contract has to be formed. Full article here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13739_3-9902548-46.html

Technically I see their point. However many other services require (well at least tell you) that you need parental consent and sometimes even make your parents authorize an account. Just a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo to protect themselves in court. Google wont enforce it unless they are forced to legally.

[brbjambajuice]

You know, that will cut use and traffic.
BTW, that article is 3 years old.

[TWCToday]

You know, that will cut use and traffic.
BTW, that article is 3 years old.

Which further supports my claim that they wont enforce it unless they have to. Its just there so they can protect themselves in legal action.

[Jonathan]

Just like no one below the age of 13 is allowed on Facebook...but I have many friends on there that are under that limit. As others have said, it's only enforced if it's legally forced.

[TWCToday]

Just like no one below the age of 13 is allowed on Facebook...but I have many friends on there that are under that limit. As others have said, it's only enforced if it's legally forced.

Back in the day... When Myspace became popular there was an age limit of 18 so most of my friends and myself signed up as 18. No age limit is going to significantly impact a younger groups participation of something online if they are determined and its not enforced

[Localonthe8s]

Just like no one below the age of 13 is allowed on Facebook...but I have many friends on there that are under that limit. As others have said, it's only enforced if it's legally forced.

Back in the day... When Myspace became popular there was an age limit of 18 so most of my friends and myself signed up as 18. No age limit is going to significantly impact a younger groups participation of something online if they are determined and its not enforced

Problem is, it's all too easy to lie your age. People will lie their age, if they use common sense. It's not like Google will scan the users' faces and tell what their actual ages are

[wxntrafficfan]

Adding to that point, there's really no way Google can enforce it. Unless someone openly states it, or Google tracks each IP to see if they use Facebook or youtube (which is illegal), it's not conceivable for them to figure someone's age out. I mean think about it, schools use Google all the time. Mine does. I use it too, and I'm obviously under 18. I understand perfectly well that it's there for legal terms, but even in the event that they are required under law to enforce this policy, it really isn't practical to do so.

[kswx29]

And here when I was in Middle School they were always pushing to use Google for searching.  I find that funny.

[TWCToday]

Just like no one below the age of 13 is allowed on Facebook...but I have many friends on there that are under that limit. As others have said, it's only enforced if it's legally forced.

Back in the day... When Myspace became popular there was an age limit of 18 so most of my friends and myself signed up as 18. No age limit is going to significantly impact a younger groups participation of something online if they are determined and its not enforced

Problem is, it's all too easy to lie your age. People will lie their age, if they use common sense. It's not like Google will scan the users' faces and tell what their actual ages are

That was my point. Its really an interesting system. If there is a problem, the company can say "well we put all of these safeguards and an age limit up so its the users fault". Otherwise if nothing happens they can still maintain that audience and thus ad revenue and activity

[P71nnacle]

Don't worry too much about it....the same legalese is what's tying  up the courts in all the RIAA/MPAA filesharing hearings, and has so for about 12-13 years now, and will as long as MP3's exist and the Internet isn't a police state.

(Speaking of that, I could start a thread on that, but there are some prying eyes that would make an example of me, so to keep it, here's Booga Booga Bob, my Caveman and Bodyguard.  )

[texasstooge]

Back when I was in Middle/Jr. High school, we students were writing research papers using Google as one of our aids. Nowadays, some students are lucky if they even get to use the internet in school at all.

[Jonathan]

Back when I was in Middle/Jr. High school, we students were writing research papers using Google as one of our aids. Nowadays, some students are lucky if they even get to use the internet in school at all.

Why is that? My school bought two carts of laptops and numerous new desktop computers this year. (These were mainly upgrades, but some computers were actually new in the classrooms.) And my school isn't exactly doing great financially. If anything, they're getting to use the internet more.