← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Age limits on apps and sites

The youngest age an app or site allows, because it collects data and shows content not made for younger kids. Check the age rating and ask a parent or carer first.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Digital Footprints — Module 25

Understanding Age limits on apps and sites in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: Checking the age rating is the first step. If the rating is higher than your age, you ask a parent or carer. Age limits are there to protect younger children from data collection and content that is not made for them. Age ratings are listed in the app store and in a site's rules, so you do not need to guess. Asking first means a trusted adult can help check the age rating and settings before any data is shared. The number is the minimum age. People who are that age or older can use it, if it is suitable.

Common mistakes: The message should show when the child is younger than the minimum age. It should be myAge < minimumAge. With > it warns the wrong children. The IF line is missing THEN. It should be IF myAge < appRating THEN.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 174–225) and word search (Modules 137–225).

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Learning
Duo
Why do many apps and sites set a minimum age?
They collect data and show content not made for younger childrenThey only want to make signing up harder for everyone
Matches
I'm 10, but I typed my birth year as 2000 to join a 13+ app.
↓
Lying about your age to get around the minimum age is unsafe. It gives the app the wrong data and lets you see content not made for you.
Applying
Meanings
Term
minimum age
Meaning
The youngest age an app or site allows, because it collects data and shows content not made for younger kids. Check the age rating and ask a parent or carer first.
Practice
minimum_age ← 13
Testing
Gaps
IF age minimumAge THEN
Check Answer
Spots
2myAge ← 11
3IF myAge > minimumAge THEN

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Quick Questions

1. Why do many apps and sites set a minimum age?
A. They only want to make signing up harder for everyone
B. They collect data and show content not made for younger children ✓
Minimum ages exist because apps collect data and show content that may not suit younger kids.
2. You find a game you want to play. Where can you check its age rating?
A. In the app store listing or the site's terms ✓
B. By guessing from the game's icon
Age ratings are listed in the app store and in a site's rules, so you do not need to guess.
3. An app says users must be 13 or older. You are 11. What is the best choice?
A. Do not sign up, and ask a parent or carer about other options ✓
B. Type a fake birth year so you can join
Giving a fake age breaks the rules and can show you content that is not made for you.
4. Which is true about age limits?
A. They are only suggestions, so nobody needs to follow them
B. They are rules that help protect younger users ✓
Age limits are real rules made to protect younger users, so they are worth following.
5. A friend says, 'Everyone in our class uses this app.' It is rated 16+. What should you do?
A. Check the age rating and ask a parent or carer first ✓
B. Download it because your friends use it
What friends do does not change the age rating. Check it and talk with a parent or carer first.

Match the Pairs

Age rating: 12+ → The app says it is made for people aged 12 or older, so younger kids should not use it
Minimum age: 13 → You must be at least 13 years old to make an account on this site
Before you download a new app, check its age rating in the app store → if age_rating > my_age: ask_parent()
Age rules exist because apps collect data and show content not made for younger kids → reason = "protects kids' data and content"
I'm 10, but I typed my birth year as 2000 to join a 13+ app. → Lying about your age to get around the minimum age is unsafe. It gives the app the wrong data and lets you see content not made for you.
The app says 16+, but I'll just download it and tell my parent later. → You should ask a parent or carer before you download an app, not after. They can check the age rating with you.

Key Term

minimum age
The youngest age an app or site allows, because it collects data and shows content not made for younger kids. Check the age rating and ask a parent or carer first.

Fill in the Blanks

1. minimumAge ← 13 IF age ≥ minimumAge THEN DISPLAY "You are old enough"
Hint: Type the comparison symbol that means the same age or older.
2. age ← 10 minimumAge ← 13 IF age < minimumAge THEN
Hint: Type the variable name that stores the youngest age the app allows.
3. IF age < minimumAge THEN ASK parentOrCarer DISPLAY "Wait until you are older"
Hint: Type the command that checks with a trusted adult first.
4. appCollectsData ← TRUE showsOlderContent ← TRUE IF appCollectsData THEN CHECK age rating
Hint: Type the Boolean value that shows this app does collect data.
5. IF age < minimumAge THEN DISPLAY "Too young for this app" END IF
Hint: Type the comparison symbol that means younger than.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A minimumAge ← 13
B myAge ← 11
C IF myAge > minimumAge THEN
D DISPLAY "Too young to join"
Line C — The message should show when the child is younger than the minimum age. It should be myAge < minimumAge. With > it warns the wrong children.
Question 2
A appRating ← 12
B myAge ← 10
C IF myAge < appRating
D DISPLAY "Ask a parent first"
Line C — The IF line is missing THEN. It should be IF myAge < appRating THEN.
Question 3
A ageRating ← nine
B myAge ← 10
C IF myAge >= ageRating THEN
D DISPLAY "Age is OK"
Line A — The age rating must be the number 9 so the program can compare it with myAge. Writing nine without quotes makes it look like an unknown variable.
Question 4
A OPEN the app store page
B IGNORE the age rating
C COMPARE it with my age
D IF too young THEN stop and ask
Line B — Checking an app's age rating is the key step. You should READ the age rating, not ignore it.
Question 5
A age ← 10
B wantsApp ← TRUE
C IF age < 13 OR wantsApp THEN
D ASK parent or carer
Line C — With OR the program asks a carer whenever the child wants any app, even if they are old enough. It needs AND so both things must be true.

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