Age Hiding Order

[lindavz]

The law is in multiple countries.

Not to mention if we fail to follow the rules, the FTC could shut us down, if they really wanted to.

The Internet is not owned by any country.

Kz, please read about COPPA. It can be used internationally.

As I mentioned previously, COPPA law doesn't actually apply to MLNO.  However it's a good security rule of thumb to have. 

The Admins of this forum may set any rules they like, for the safety of the forum or any other purpose.

That is correct, and as I mentioned, it isn't to COMPLY with COPPA, as it doesn't apply to MLNO.  I am in agreement that it's a good rule of thumb to have though.

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COPPA Info Below:

Who Must Comply

If you operate a commercial Web site or an online service directed to children under 13 that collects personal information from children or if you operate a general audience Web site and have actual knowledge that you are collecting personal information from children, you must comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.

Personal Information

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and Rule apply to individually identifiable information about a child that is collected online, such as full name, home address, email address, telephone number or any other information that would allow someone to identify or contact the child. The Act and Rule also cover other types of information -- for example, hobbies, interests and information collected through cookies or other types of tracking mechanisms -- when they are tied to individually identifiable information.

http://www.coppa.org/comply.htm

http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/coppa1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Online_Privacy_Protection_Act

[lionytai]

The Internet is not owned by any country.

But this site is owned by someone. That someone could make it own rules.

[Tommy_60]

I don't know how to hide it, so I just replaced all digits with 0's, is that okay?


Edit : Why haven't we done this already?  This 'law' has been in effect for quite some time!  Besides, it's the user's decision if he/she wants to contact other people or have others contact him/her.  If they get stalked and hurt, it's their own fault.

[.]

i turned 13 on dec 30th. the coppa does not apply to the mlno, so the 12 and under members should have the right to choose to display their age. so the staff can applay the rule, but it isnt enforced my the law.

[Dudebot5000: The King of Braves]

Technically we made it a forum rule, so it's technically enforced by our law...

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Do you guys all realize why COPPA made the age for their rules 13??
It is about protecting younger kids from predators. If you don't know what that means ask your parents.
What is so awful about hiding the YEAR of your birthday?? You still get the month and day, so you are still gonna get a cake...  
This is not the end of the world.

[.]

@ db: i know it enforced by the mlno law but if 12 year olds and people younger than that should be ale to choose to display their age. if they are afraid of stalkers, than they can hide their age. if they feel safe, they should have the option.

[Tommy_60]

Do you guys all realize why COPPA made the age for their rules 13??
It is about protecting younger kids from predators. If you don't know what that means ask your parents.
What is so awful about hiding the YEAR of your birthday?? You still get the month and day, so you are still gonna get a cake...  
This is not the end of the world.

Read my edit.

I don't know how to hide it, so I just replaced all digits with 0's, is that okay?


Edit : Why haven't we done this already?  This 'law' has been in effect for quite some time!  Besides, it's the user's decision if he/she wants to contact other people or have others contact him/her.  If they get stalked and hurt, it's their own fault.

[Rakoua]

The COPPA is irrelevant anyway, but we can choose to make a rule to protect our members. Some sites don't even allow for profiles to be made without a written autorisation from a parent, if someone is younger then 13 years...

[lindavz]

Yes, as I said earlier, MLNO can make whatever rule it chooses, I am just clarifying that it isn't due to compliance with COPPA. 

The COPPA law is essentially different for those website operators that have knowledge of members under 13 and those over 13 and whether or not there was prior knowledge of their age.  This has to do with liability.  If the admins want me to clarify this further, please let me know.

[Dancer]

A lot of learned comments here, but I must ask the not so obvious, what difference could it make to post your age on a site such as this? I'm talking about MLNO, not any other site.

Let me ask this as well, does MLNO ask the date of birth in the first place, if so, who are they to trust, if not, who do we know who to watch out for and protect?

[MsRowdyRedhead]

This, like any other sie, can be viewed or visited by anyone.
A person could even join, pretending to be a teen, and be something else.
May I ask, what is the problem with trying to keep it as safe as possible??

[lindavz]

There may be a problem with asking a user who entered a birthdate to then remove the year - and it may be considered falsifying age - if done in this manner.  There is a difference between asking new users to not enter birthdate - as you don't have prior knowledge, and asking existing users to remove the year where you do have prior knowledge and then they appear to be over 13.

Because the initial indicated in the initial message that this is requested due to compliance with COPPA, there are very specific rules about how to comply and what is and is not included. 

If this rule is due to security and safety, and not due to COPPA - then perhaps it would be a difference scenario.

http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/coppafaqs.shtm

[Dancer]

This, like any other sie, can be viewed or visited by anyone.
A person could even join, pretending to be a teen, and be something else.
May I ask, what is the problem with trying to keep it as safe as possible??

NP, just asking because I'm new

[lionytai]

This, like any other sie, can be viewed or visited by anyone.
A person could even join, pretending to be a teen, and be something else.
May I ask, what is the problem with trying to keep it as safe as possible??

I'm with MsRowdyRedhead. An extra protectino wouldn't do any harm.

[ab§olute_Z3R0]

I'm good as I turned 15 today. XD

[lionytai]

Why is it good to post your age?

[lindavz]

I think he meant that he didn't need to modify his profile because he's old than the rule imposed.

I do agree that for safety's sake, it's best to not know your age.

[B~T]

Topic dead, topic locked, topic closed.