A Strategic Guide for CEOs, Founders, Legal, Product & Security Leaders
2026 is officially underway—and it will be a defining year for children’s privacy, youth safety, and regulatory enforcement.
With the COPPA Rule amendments taking effect in April 2026, more than 20 U.S. state youth privacy and online safety laws advancing, and new Children’s Codes and global online safety regulations emerging, this year will fundamentally change how companies are expected to protect younger users. Whether your platform is built for minors or simply attracts them, compliance is no longer optional. The risks—regulatory enforcement, brand damage, and operational disruption—are real and accelerating.
Privacy and safety must be built in by design. That includes demonstrating compliance, implementing age assurance and verifiable parental consent where required, and aligning legal, product, security, and marketing teams around a unified strategy. In 2026, compliance cannot be a last-minute exercise. It requires early planning, budget allocation, cross-functional coordination, and independent oversight.
Organizations that act now can reduce risk, avoid costly remediation, and position themselves for long-term growth. Those that delay may face steep penalties, product delays, and lasting reputational harm.
This blog outlines the essential steps companies should take to kick-start their 2026 readiness. For a deeper view of the regulatory landscape, access PRIVO's Quick Guide To Protecting Minors Online, a practical reference covering what’s enforceable, what’s coming, and how to prepare.
What Is Changing in 2026
Major change is underway. Regulators worldwide are imposing higher standards for youth data privacy, safety, and digital rights. Below are the key changes executives must navigate and plan for.
1. COPPA Rule amendments: Significant New Obligations coming into force in April 2026
The FTC’s updated COPPA Rule introduces increased protections that impact security and data governance.
Key updates include:
📌 Read PRIVO’s full COPPA Amendments breakdown
2. U.S. States Are Expanding Youth Privacy & Safety Requirements
More than 20 states are advancing new laws requiring:
These laws apply even when companies do not intend to serve minors, but minors use the service.
Children’s Codes in the U.S.
Several states are now adopting Children’s Codes similar to the UK code, which require companies to:
App Store Accountability Laws
Several states, including Texas, Utah, and California, have passed or proposed App Store Accountability laws, with additional federal proposals under discussion. These laws focus on age-related controls at the app download or purchase stage, and some (including Texas) are currently being challenged in court.
Critical nuance: App store–level consent applies only to the download or purchase event. It does not replace in-app COPPA, GDPR, or state law requirements. Developers remain responsible for ongoing in-app compliance, including account creation, data collection, messaging, profiling, and third-party data sharing.
3. International Youth Privacy & Safety Regulations
Across global markets, from the UK and EU to India, Australia, and Brazil legislation such as the Online Safety Act, DPDP Act, Social Media Minimum Age Act, Children Online Privacy Code, Digital ECA, GDPR, EU AI Act, and Digital Services Act signal a clear shift: requirements are increasing and enforcement is coming.
While each regulation differs, they share core requirements:
If your platform reaches global users, compliance must be dynamic and jurisdiction-aware to comply with each regulation.
4. Social Media Bans & Restrictions Are Driving Young Teens Elsewhere
As governments impose age restrictions and, in some regions, outright bans for younger teens on social media, children are actively seeking alternative digital spaces.
This creates a major opportunity for companies building:
Only organizations with robust compliance will meet this demand and succeed.
Budgeting for 2026
Compliance is not simple. It requires planning, resources, and independent verification.
Typical Annual Cost Ranges (Depending on Scale & Risk)
If your organization hasn’t budgeted for regulatory readiness, now is the time.
Why Your Teams Need Support
Children’s privacy and safety compliance are not a one-time policy update. It requires continuous oversight across engineering, legal, product, trust & safety, and security.
No company should be checking its own homework. Regulators expect independent, neutral oversight particularly in the case of minors’ data.
A third-party partner such as PRIVO will reduce exposure, catch issues internal teams miss, and provides continuous monitoring as your product evolves.
Your budget for 2026 should include the following:
1. Legal & Policy Development
Effective compliance starts with clear interpretation, documentation, and ongoing oversight to ensure policies, products, and partners remain aligned with evolving children’s privacy laws.
2. Technology & Operational Infrastructure
Organizations must plan for:
These systems require configuration, validation, and independent oversight.
3. Security & Data Governance
Children’s data is treated as high-risk data by regulators, requiring formal governance, documented safeguards, and demonstrable controls across the data lifecycle.
4. Cross-Functional Training & Alignment
A compliant youth experience requires coordination across:
The Enforcement Reality: Fines Are Only the Beginning
COPPA fines can reach $53,088 per violation, and penalties under GDPR can reach €20 million or 4% of global annual revenue — and these are only examples.
Across U.S. states and international jurisdictions, enforcement authorities now have the power to impose meaningful civil penalties, injunctive relief, and long-term compliance obligations, with fine structures that vary by law and jurisdiction.
But the deeper costs often extend far beyond monetary penalties and may include:
Compliance is far less expensive than complying with an enforcement action.
The Opportunity for Forward-Thinking Companies
2026 isn’t just about risk mitigation. It’s about leadership.
As major platforms restrict access for young users, families are seeking safer and trusted, digital environments. Companies that invest in privacy and safety now will win on:
Why PRIVO
PRIVO has been an FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor since 2004, a technology innovator and is one of the most experienced global providers of:
PRIVO is the independent expert that regulators, parents, and industry trust.
Operationalizing 2026 Readiness
The regulatory expectations around children’s privacy and youth safety are accelerating. Turning readiness into action requires more than awareness—it demands clear ownership, cross-functional alignment, and trusted oversight. Companies that move decisively in early 2026 will be better equipped to adapt, scale, and stay ahead of enforcement risk.
PRIVO’s updated Quick Guide to Regulations Protecting Children Online is available now to support your planning.
Let us help you enter 2026 confident, compliant, and ready to lead.
➡️ Download the 2026 Regulation Quick Guide
➡️ Contact PRIVO for information on our Kids Privacy Assured programs, age assurance and consent solutions.