Google is looking to expand its audience by offering kid-friendly accounts to children under 13 years old.
The move would mark the first time that accounts for the search giant would be made available to children in this age group, as no accounts to Gmail and YouTube have not been officially offered to kids this young before, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Google plans to develop a system that will let parents set up accounts for their children. A person familiar with the move said parents would be able to control how kids use Google services, as well as the information that is collected about them.
Under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), Web companies are restricted in targeting kids under the age of 13 to prevent companies from storing their data and using it for advertising, CNET reported. Such restrictions include children in this age group having to get parental consent.
Other tech companies are trying to target kids, with Yahoo letting kids use its services after gaining parental consent with a 50-cent credit card charge, and Facebook reportedly planning to reach out to a younger audience.
Google's system for children under 13, which was first reported by The Information, would be offered in the form of a dashboard, and would be an addition to a version of YouTube created for kids, WebProNews reported.
The effort is also in response to parents who are already trying to get a Google account for their kids, the Wall Street Journal reported. The source familiar with the move said Google plans to make the process of getting an account easier while following regulations.
