united-states contract-law terms-of-service
Facebook contract Vs Minors
<p>A <a href="https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/can-a-minor-enter-into-a-contract-34024" rel="nofollow noreferrer">minor's ability to contract</a> at face-value is straight forward, any contract with a minor that is not for necessities (food, medicine, clothing, and lodging), and was not approved by the parents/guardian, can be dis-affirmed by the minor as long as its before they become the age of majority. </p>

<p>But how does Facebook handle their agreements with minors?</p>

<p>Facebook, a social networking site that allows minors thirteen years of age or older to use their site without parental supervision (in compliance with <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule" rel="nofollow noreferrer">COPPA</a>); Facebook receives it's revenue from collecting personal information about its users and targeting the user with ads that might line up with their values or interests. Although Facebook is in compliance with COPPA, it still holds agreements with individuals that have not yet reached the <a href="https://law.jrank.org/pages/11848/Legal-Ages.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">age of majority</a>, and uses their information for things like "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/update" rel="nofollow noreferrer">testing</a>" and "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/update" rel="nofollow noreferrer">research</a>".</p>

<p>Can Facebook legally conduct these "research and testing" activities with minors and their accounts if the contracts(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms" rel="nofollow noreferrer">TOS</a>) with Facebook's users that aren't the age of majority are considered <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/voidable-contract.asp" rel="nofollow noreferrer">voidable</a>/<a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/unenforceable-contract" rel="nofollow noreferrer">unenforceable</a>?  </p>

<p><strong>UPDATE</strong></p>

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<p>It seems as though Google, YoutTube, and other large tech companies (e.g. tiktok) have been found in violation of COPPA, with this new information can FaceBook conduct their "research and testing" with minors information without violating COPPA. </p>

<p>Facebook can continue to gather and exploit data, modulo the requirements of COPPA, because it does not depend on obligating a minor to do something, such as pay money or dig a ditch. In general and because of copyright law, nobody has the right to use anything that Facebook provides unless Facebook grants the user permission. The user has no obligation to provide anything to Facebook – if it did, the minor would arguably be exempt from that obligation. </p>
