How we verify parents and guardians
We believe every child on MyPathSocials should have a real parent or guardian who has explicitly said "yes, my child may use this."
What "verification" means here
When we say verification, we mean parental consent. We are confirming that an adult with responsibility for the child has seen the account request and approved it. We are not running background checks, and we do not store identity documents.
How it works today
1. Your child registers
They enter your email address as their guardian. We send you a message immediately.
2. You receive an email from us
The email includes your child's username and a secure link. Nobody else can use that link.
3. You click to approve — or don't
Only after you click the approval link is your child's account activated. Until then, they cannot post, comment, or interact with anyone.
4. You stay in the loop
You get a parent dashboard where you can see everything your child posts, approve or reject content, and adjust their settings.
Why this method
This approach — sometimes called Email Plus — is one of the methods recognised by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) for platforms that collect only limited, internal-use data.
We fit that category because:
- Nothing your child posts is publicly visible
- We do not share data with third parties
- We do not display advertising or use tracking
- Content stays inside our gated community
- You can delete everything at any time
What we do NOT do
- We do not store passports, driver's licences, or national ID documents
- We do not run credit checks on parents
- We do not record video calls
- We do not sell or share your details with advertisers
- We do not require you to download an app
If you'd like stronger verification
Some parents prefer a more direct confirmation. We're happy to arrange it. Just reply to your guardian approval email or write to us at mypath@findyourpath.life and we will:
- Confirm by video call with you and your child
- Or confirm by phone from a number you register
- Or accept a signed consent note (we'll send you a template)
There's no extra charge for this — we're a small team and we'd rather know our families personally while we grow.
Our commitment going forward
A note on evolving best practice
Privacy law for children is changing quickly — in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. Technologies and third-party verification services are also improving.
We are actively researching stronger and more accessible verification methods — including options that remain free or very low cost for families. Where we can raise the bar without putting pressure on parents, we will.
We will always tell you when we change how verification works, and we will never make it harder for a caring parent to approve their child's account.
Questions
Email mypath@findyourpath.life — a real person will reply as quickly as possible.