Showing ads to users under the age of consent

[Bazyli Cyran]

Hi,

I already posted this question in Google AdMob Help community and was directed to post it here.

I'm trying to figure out the correct and compliant way of displaying ads in application targeted to kids. Ads in such application cannot be personalized - this works correctly when I tag the ad requests as targeted towards children.

However, as far as I know any kind of ads require user's consent, even the non personalized ones. But the UMP form is not available for users under the age of consent ConsentRequestParameters(tagForUnderAgeOfConsent: true). AFAIU this is an expected behavior, since it's explicitly described in the docs:

There are a variety of reasons why a form may not be available, such as:

• The user has limit ad tracking enabled.
• You tagged the user as under the age of consent.

If I can't show the form, then I can't get consent and I can't display the ads.

What am I missing here?

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Thank you for contacting the Mobile Ads SDK Support team.

When advertising in kids' apps, it's important to follow privacy regulations. Regulations like COPPA in the U.S. require you to get consent for showing ads to children, even non-personalized ones. But, the User Messaging Platform (UMP) form isn't available for kids under the age of consent. To handle this, first, know the rules in your area. Create a way to check a user's age without collecting personal info. Use non-personalized ads in your app settings. Make sure your ads and content are suitable for kids. Inform parents and guardians about your ad practices and privacy policies. If you're unsure, consult a legal expert. It's vital to comply with these rules to avoid legal issues. Keep an eye on updates in the regulations and ad network policies for children's advertising.

Please reach out to us, if you need any further assistance.
 

This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!5004Q02q9LT9:ref"

Thanks,
 

Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Bazyli Cyran]

Thank you for the reply, however it clearly doesn't answer my question. To clarify - my app is targeted to users in EU which means that it has to comply with GDPR.

Can I get a yes / no answers to my questions?

1. GDPR requires consent to display ads, even the non-personalized ones. yes or no?
   
2. Consent form can't be displayed to users below the age of consent. yes or no?
3. Assuming the answer to both of the questions above is "yes": AdMob ads can't be displayed to users under the age of consent in EU. yes or no?
   

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Thank you for reaching out to us.

Please find the responses to your queries below:

• GDPR generally requires consent to display ads, even non-personalized ones.

           Ans:Yes

• Consent forms can't be displayed to users below the age of consent. 

           Ans:Yes

• Assuming the answers to the previous questions are "yes," AdMob ads typically cannot be displayed to users under the age of consent in the EU while complying with GDPR. 

           Ans:Yes