User blog comment:Aj732/PROTEST/@comment-7563472-20150809035907/@comment-5558012-20150810005119

"If their parents allow them to be on the internet, because they think their kid can handle it, they should be able to, the government shouldn't control people like that."
 * COPPA allows for parental approval for those under 13, but the problem is for a company to actually document properly that that user actually has approval from a parent. Getting parental approval over the Internet would be much work (plus the verification that a parent is actually giving approval and not some random person), not to mention the multiplying effect when you factor in the number of people under 13. The simpler option for many reasons is to simply block those under 13 from using the service.

"It's kinda absurd that there is a law stopping kids under 13 from having accounts on the internet."
 * There isn't a law stopping kids under 13 from having accounts. There are terms of use that prohibit those individuals from making accounts so obeying the law is easier, legally and financially.