So sick of this.

dreamer • 27 October 2012 at 4:47 PM

Seriously, I'm fed up with the "13 or older" rule on most stupid websites.

When I got my new phone in June, it made me create a gmail account. So I did. I just made a Google+ profile through that email, and I added my real age. It automatically logged me out. I logged back in and it said my account had been disabled and it will be deleted in 29 days unless I "prove" that I'm 13 years old or older, which I'm not.
The ridiculous thing is that I'm only one month and 10 days away from meeting said requirement. I understand the whole "security" aspect, but this rule has been issued by the government, I guess. That ticks me off more than anything.
I mean, seriously? I'm mature enough to handle myself myself without being BANISHED on Gmail jus because I'm not a teen yet. I'm sick of Internet restrictions and I want to do something about it. Anyone else?

april__ • 27 October 2012 at 4:49 PM

It used to bother me when I was younger but now that I'm older, I understand why the rules are there.

dreamer • 27 October 2012 at 4:57 PM

@April_ I can understand not wanting a 9-year-old or 10-year-old on email... I've had an account on Comcast since I was 8 years old, and I hadn't caused a problem. Now I'm turning 13 in 41 days, but my Google+ account is still going to be deleted, apparently. I guess I'm just fed up with myself right now. I don't know. I'm so close to having a pinch of freedom, yet still so far...

april__ • 27 October 2012 at 5:02 PM

@dreamer

You'll be 13 soon.

I was an evil c hild. I used to lie about my age all the time. XD

akira • 27 October 2012 at 5:05 PM

Same here, I turn 13 on November 23rd :/

dreamer • 27 October 2012 at 5:05 PM

@April_ I know... I'm an idiot though. XD On my Gmail I said I was 16, but then I posted my real birthdate on my profile and BANG... Screwed. XD Life is cruel. I suppose it's a good thing that the site has such a high security... But it's annoying. 😋

Meteoroid • 27 October 2012 at 5:08 PM

@dreamer Google actually has no control over that, actually. It's not entirely the idea of children using e-mail, but rather that it requires some information in order to sign up. That is where COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection) comes in to 'prevent' children under the age of 13 from handing out private information.
Yes, the month, day, and year you were born on doesn't seem that much of a security risk, but it's still personal information being collected.

Quite honestly, it's not a very effective law and children still use fake ages when signing up for something. I see this more of a problem for companies needing to comply with COPPA rather than children.

dreamer • 27 October 2012 at 9:44 PM

@April_ @Meteroid

I'm so nervous now. I tried to go to the Google Play Store, but it said I needed authenticication. I typed my password for my gmail account but it was still invalid. I'm so scared! What do I do? ☹️