Verify Parental Consent: Why We Require It & How It Protects Your Family

At HeyOtto, your child's safety is at the center of every feature we build. Because our app allows kids to search the web, explore AI tools, and create content, we follow strict industry-standard safety practices - including verifiable parental consent.

Below is a simple explanation of why verification matters, how it works, and what you can expect.

Why Parental Consent Matters

Children's privacy is protected by laws like COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act). These laws require companies like ours to confirm that a child's parent or legal guardian:

Understands what information is being collected
Approves how their child uses the app
Has full control over privacy and safety settings
Can update or revoke consent at any time

Requiring parental consent ensures that you, not a platform, are in control of your child's experience. It also helps prevent unauthorized accounts and keeps digital spaces safer for everyone.

How We Verify Consent

Creating a HeyOtto parent account requires completing a secure, one-time verification step. To confirm that the adult creating the account is truly the parent or guardian, we perform a small credit card transaction.

Here's how it works:

1. You create your parent account at chat.heyotto.app/signup

2. We ask you to enter a valid credit card to verify your identity

3. Once confirmed, your consent is approved

This method is widely accepted, secure, and used by top family-focused platforms to meet COPPA requirements.

Thank You - Enjoy 50 Free Tokens

Once your parental consent is verified, we'll automatically add 50 free tokens to your account.

These can be used for fun premium features like:

AI image generation
Custom storybooks
Advanced search tools
Creative projects

It's our way of saying thank you for helping us keep HeyOtto a safe, protected, and magical place for kids and teens.

Your Data & Privacy

We take your payment security seriously:

What we collect:

Credit card verification (processed securely through Stripe)
Parent name and email
Verification timestamp

What we DON'T collect:

Full credit card numbers (never stored)
Billing addresses (unless required by payment processor)
Any unnecessary personal information

Security standards:

PCI-DSS compliant payment processing
Bank-level encryption (AES-256 encryption)
No data sharing with third parties
Secure, encrypted storage

Common Questions

Why can't I just enter my birthdate instead?

Birthdates can be easily faked by children. Credit card verification ensures that a real adult with financial responsibility is providing consent, which is the gold standard for COPPA compliance.

Is my credit card information safe?

Yes. We use Stripe, a trusted payment processor used by millions of businesses worldwide. We never see or store your full credit card number.

What if I don't have a credit card?

We currently require credit card verification to meet COPPA standards. We're exploring additional verification methods for families without credit cards. Contact us at contact@heyotto.app if you need alternative options.

Will you charge me again?

No. This is a one-time verification charge. You will only be charged in the future if you choose to purchase additional tokens or subscribe to a paid plan.

Our Commitment to Your Family

We take safety seriously - not as a checkbox, but as a responsibility. Parental consent is a key part of creating a trusted environment where kids can explore, learn, and create while parents stay fully in control.

What parental consent gives you:

[x] Full control over your child's account and data
[x] Access to comprehensive monitoring tools
[x] Ability to set age-appropriate boundaries
[x] Peace of mind that your child's privacy is protected
[x] The power to revoke access at any time

Next Steps After Verification

Once your parental consent is verified:

1. Set up your child's profile with age and interests

2. Customize content filters and safety settings

3. Explore the parent dashboard to see monitoring tools

4. Use your 50 free tokens to try premium features

5. Share Otto with your child and watch them explore safely

Getting Help

If you ever have questions about safety, privacy, or how your child uses HeyOtto, we're always here to help.

Email: contact@heyotto.app
FAQ: [heyotto.app/faq](https://heyotto.app/faq)
Response time: Within 48 hours

For urgent safety concerns:

If you discover content that suggests immediate danger to a child, please contact local authorities first, then notify us immediately at contact@heyotto.app.

Legal Compliance

HeyOtto is committed to full compliance with:

COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) for EU families
CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)
State-specific child privacy laws

Our parental consent process meets or exceeds all federal requirements for child-directed online services.

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Thank you for trusting HeyOtto with your family's online safety. Together, we're building a safer, smarter digital world for kids.