Google and YouTube have agreed to pay $30 million to settle allegations they illegally collected personal data from children under 13 years old. The settlement resolves claims that the companies violated privacy laws by gathering information from minors who watched cartoons, nursery rhymes, and other child-directed content on YouTube between July 2013 and April 2020.
While Youtube hasn’t actually admitted any wrong doing, if your child watched YouTube during this period and was under 13 at the time, they may be eligible for a payment. However, it’s critically important to understand the exact qualification requirements before submitting a claim, as filing falsely constitutes perjury.
1. Verify your child’s eligibility before filing
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The settlement has very specific eligibility requirements that must be met to qualify for compensation.
Only individuals who were under 13 years old between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020, AND who watched content specifically directed at children on YouTube during that timeframe qualify for this settlement.
This would include channels featuring cartoons, nursery rhymes, children’s songs, educational content for young children, or toy reviews.
It’s crucial to understand that not all YouTube viewing by children qualifies. The content must have been directed specifically at children, not general content that happened to be watched by someone under 13.
Consider carefully whether your child meets these exact criteria before proceeding.
2. Submit a valid claim by the deadline
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If you’ve confirmed your child qualifies, you can submit a claim through the official settlement website.
Visit the settlement website and complete the claim form truthfully and accurately. As this relates to persons under the age of 18, the claim will have to be filled out on the child’s behalf.
Remember that all claims are submitted under penalty of perjury, which means providing false information could have legal consequences. The settlement administrators may also verify claims to ensure their legitimacy.
3. Understand what compensation to expect
The settlement amount per person will vary depending on how many valid claims are submitted.
No specific payment estimates are available yet, as the final amount will depend on the total number of legitimate claims filed. The $30 million fund will be divided among all valid claimants after administrative costs and legal fees are deducted.
Given the potential size of the class (millions of children used YouTube during this period), individual payments could be relatively modest. However, if fewer people file claims than expected, the amount per claimant could increase.
4. Important dates to remember
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The settlement process has several key deadlines you should mark on your calendar. The deadline to exclude yourself from or object to the settlement is December 8, 2025.
The final approval hearing is scheduled for January 13, 2026, and as mentioned earlier, all claims must be submitted by January 21, 2026. If you choose to do nothing by these deadlines, you will not receive compensation.
While this settlement offers an opportunity for affected families to receive compensation, the integrity of the process depends on honest participation. Filing a claim when your child doesn’t qualify is not only legally problematic but also reduces the compensation for those truly affected by the alleged privacy violations.
Take the time to carefully evaluate your eligibility before proceeding with a claim.
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