Best examples of children's privacy policy examples under GDPR

Real‑world examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR

Regulators don’t want theory; they want to see how you actually explain things to kids and parents. That’s why starting with real examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR is more useful than starting with abstract definitions.

Across Europe and the UK, the best examples share a few traits:

• They split content between child‑friendly and parent‑focused sections.
• They explain age limits and consent in plain language.
• They are short, layered, and visual, not walls of legal text.
• They spell out profiling, ads, and sharing in concrete terms.

Below are patterns drawn from real examples, public regulator guidance, and enforcement cases that you can borrow from.

Example of a layered children’s privacy notice for a learning app

Imagine a U.S.‑based edtech startup offering a language‑learning app to children in the EU. The company needs a GDPR‑compliant children’s privacy notice. One of the strongest examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR in this space uses a layered approach:

• Top layer (for kids, ages 8–13): A short page with big headings like “What information about you we use,” “Why we need it,” and “Who sees it.” Sentences are short, jargon‑free, and avoid legalese.
• Second layer (for parents): A more detailed page that covers legal bases, data retention, international transfers, and rights.

Sample child‑facing wording:

We ask for your first name, age, and the country you live in so we can show you lessons that fit your level and language. We do not show you ads that follow you around the internet. We do not sell your information.

Sample parent‑facing wording:

For children under 16 located in the EU/EEA (or the lower age set by your country’s law, which may be between 13 and 16), we process personal data only with verifiable parental consent. We use this data to provide the service (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR) and to comply with our legal obligations (Article 6(1)(c) GDPR).

This kind of layered structure lines up with guidance from regulators like the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on age‑appropriate design and transparency.

Examples include age‑threshold and parental consent language

One of the most sensitive parts of any children’s privacy notice is the age threshold. Good examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR do two things at once:

• They state the age limit clearly.
• They acknowledge different national ages under Article 8 GDPR.

Sample wording you’ll see in some of the best examples:

Our services are not directed to children under 16 in the European Economic Area, or under the lower age allowed by your country’s law (between 13 and 16). Where required, we ask for a parent or guardian’s permission before we collect or use a child’s personal information.

Stronger notices go further and explain how parental consent is verified:

To confirm parental consent, we may ask a parent or guardian to complete a small credit card authorization, sign and return a consent form, or verify their identity through a secure government‑ID check. We use this information only to confirm consent and then delete it, unless we must keep it for legal reasons.

This mirrors approaches discussed in regulator materials and academic work on children’s online privacy, including research hosted by universities such as Harvard University on youth and digital rights.

Best examples of data‑use explanations kids can actually understand

Some of the best examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR don’t just say what data is collected; they explain why, in language that makes sense to a 10‑ or 12‑year‑old.

Typical bad policy sentence:

We process your personal data to improve our services and for analytics.

Better, child‑friendly example:

We look at how you use our game—like which levels you play most—to fix bugs and make new levels. We use codes instead of your name whenever we can, so we don’t know it’s you.

Strong policies:

• Avoid abstract phrases like “legitimate interests” in child‑facing text.
• Use examples instead: “We need your email so we can help you if you forget your password.”
• Distinguish necessary data from optional data.

Parent‑facing layer can still reference legal bases, but the child‑facing layer stays concrete.

Example of handling profiling, ads, and dark patterns

Advertising and profiling are where regulators get particularly skeptical. Real examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR that stand up to scrutiny:

• Clearly state whether profiling is used to tailor content or ads.
• Avoid “nudge” language that pushes kids into accepting tracking.

Example of clear, protective wording:

We do not show you personalized ads based on what you do in other apps or websites. We do not build a profile about you for advertising. We may recommend videos or lessons based on what you watch or play inside our app so you can find similar content you might like.

And for parents:

We do not rely on legitimate interests for behavioral advertising to children. Where we use cookies or similar technologies that are not strictly necessary, we ask for consent from the parent or guardian, in line with EU ePrivacy rules.

This aligns with enforcement trends and guidance from European data protection authorities and with broader child‑online‑safety principles similar to those discussed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its materials on children’s online privacy (ftc.gov).

Real examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR by sector

Patterns vary by industry. Looking across public privacy notices and regulatory guidance, examples include:

Social and gaming platforms

For social apps and online games, better examples of children’s privacy policy language:

• Explain friend features and chat clearly.
• Call out public vs. private by default.
• Address reporting and safety tools.

Child‑facing example:

Your profile picture and username can be seen by other players. You can choose a nickname that does not show your real name. You can block or report any player who makes you feel uncomfortable.

Parent‑facing example:

By default, we limit who can contact child accounts and provide tools for parents to manage friend requests and chat. We log safety reports and may share them with law enforcement where we believe someone’s safety is at risk.

Edtech and school platforms

Edtech services sit at the intersection of GDPR and education law. Thoughtful examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR in this sector:

• Distinguish school‑mandated processing from optional features.
• Clarify the roles of controller (often the school) and processor (the vendor).

Parent‑facing example:

When we provide our services to your child’s school, the school is usually the controller of your child’s personal data. We act on the school’s instructions. Please contact your school to exercise GDPR rights such as access or deletion, unless we tell you otherwise.

Many U.S.‑based vendors pair GDPR wording with references to U.S. student privacy laws and guidance, drawing on resources from sites like the U.S. Department of Education (ed.gov).

Health‑related apps for teens

For wellness or health‑tracking apps, policies must tread carefully around sensitive data. Strong examples include:

We collect information you choose to enter about your mood, sleep, and exercise. This may be considered health information. We use it only to show you trends and suggestions in the app. We do not use this information for advertising or share it with your school or employer.

Parent‑facing wording often references heightened protection for health data and may link to external health‑information resources such as Mayo Clinic or NIH for general health education, while making clear that the app is not providing medical advice.

Example of explaining children’s rights under GDPR

Children have the same GDPR rights as adults, but they’re rarely told about them in language they can use. Some of the best examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR:

• Provide kid‑friendly explanations of rights.
• Offer simple ways to exercise them.

Child‑facing wording:

You have rights over your information. This means you can:

• Ask to see the information we have about you.
• Ask us to fix information that is wrong.
• Ask us to delete some information.

You can ask your parent or guardian to help you. They can email us at privacy@example.com.

Parent‑facing layer can add detail on legal timelines, exceptions, and identity verification, but the core message stays practical.

2024–2025 trends shaping children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR

When you look at recent guidance and enforcement, a few trends stand out that directly influence how examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR are drafted today:

Stronger expectations for design and clarity
Regulators are moving beyond “is there a privacy policy?” to “is it understandable and fair for a child?” This mirrors broader work on children’s online safety and dark patterns, including discussions in academic and policy circles hosted by institutions like Harvard and major child‑health organizations such as the CDC, which emphasize plain‑language communication with youth.

Age‑appropriate design and profiling scrutiny
Authorities in the EU and UK are aligning with age‑appropriate design principles: minimal profiling, privacy‑protective defaults, and no manipulative consent flows aimed at kids.

More cross‑border services, more hybrid notices
U.S. companies now commonly combine GDPR children’s notices with references to U.S. laws like COPPA, because the same product often serves both U.S. and EU kids. This leads to hybrid policies that reference both GDPR concepts and U.S. child‑privacy rules.

Practical building blocks you’ll see repeated in the best examples

If you read through a dozen strong examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR, you start to see the same building blocks repeated:

• Audience split: One section aimed at children, another at parents, often with a toggle or tabs.
• Short sentences and headings: “What we collect,” “Why we use it,” “Who we share it with,” “Your choices.”
• Visual or layered structure: Summaries first, detail on click.
• Specific promises: “We do not sell your data,” “We do not use your data for ads,” “We do not track you across other apps,” where true.
• Clear contact channel: A dedicated privacy email or web form, with instructions for parents and older teens.

These patterns are not decoration; they are how you demonstrate that you actually considered a child’s point of view, which is exactly what regulators expect under GDPR’s fairness and transparency principles.

FAQ: examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR

Q1: Can you give an example of a simple GDPR consent sentence for parents?
A common example of parent‑facing wording is: “By creating an account for your child, you confirm that you are their parent or legal guardian and that you agree to our use of your child’s personal information as described in this notice. You can withdraw your consent at any time by deleting your child’s account or contacting us.” This kind of example of consent language is short, clear, and points directly to controls.

Q2: Are there examples of children’s privacy policy language that cover both GDPR and U.S. COPPA?
Yes. Many global services include a section labeled “Children’s Privacy” that states the GDPR age thresholds for EU users and separately references COPPA for U.S. users. These examples include statements like: “If your child lives in the European Economic Area or the UK, we follow the GDPR and local laws. If your child lives in the United States, we follow COPPA. In both cases, we ask for your permission before we collect personal information from your child.”

Q3: What is an example of wording on data retention for children’s data?
A practical example of retention language is: “We keep your child’s account information while the account is active. If you or your child delete the account, we remove or anonymize personal information within 30 days, unless we must keep some information longer to meet legal or safety obligations.” This shows a specific time frame and acknowledges legal limits.

Q4: Do examples of children’s privacy policy examples under GDPR need to mention profiling explicitly?
If you profile children—for recommendations, safety, or anything else—you should explain it clearly. Strong examples include statements like: “We use automated tools to recommend content based on what your child watches or plays in our app. We do not use these tools to make decisions that have legal or major effects on your child, such as denying access to education or health services.”

Q5: Where can I look for more real examples and guidance?
Regulators and public institutions publish guidance that heavily influences how the best examples are structured. Useful starting points include the UK ICO’s materials on children’s privacy and age‑appropriate design, the European Data Protection Board’s guidelines on consent, and child‑online‑safety resources from organizations like the CDC and major universities. These resources aren’t templates, but they show what regulators expect and how to frame information in a way children can actually use.