Why does Google need to know my birthday?

[Tom Sheats]

Got a message on my phone today "Account Action Required, add birthday to your Google account now ********@gmail.com.," something I only look at when I get an annoying message like this.

Why does Google need to know my birthday? Sounds like a potential invasion of privacy -- or worse.

 

[Jim Feeley]

To make sure they're following the age-limit laws or guidelines for the country in which you reside.

Age requirements on Google Accounts
Below are the minimum age requirements to manage your own Google Account.
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1350409

 

[Tom Sheats]

Thanks.

There doesn't seem to be any minimum age requirements in the U.S., except for Google Pay.

 

[paulears]

I think it's so they can give you nice present ideas when it gets near the date!

 

[Imamacuser]

Not to mention ads targeted to your age demographic 365 days a year. I lied about my birthday to FaceBook, just to throw off datamining.

 

[Run&Gun]

Not to mention ads targeted to your age demographic 365 days a year. I lied about my birthday to FaceBook, just to throw off datamining.

I've done similar on sites where you must "verify" your age to see content, like some video game trailers. I'd usually just run it to the lowest/oldest date possible(most used to be something like 01/01/1901). I understand why these video game companies do this, because I lived through the implementation of "Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics" and the "ESRB" system for games, but it's just funny(ironic?) to me that you must do this to watch a video game trailer, but anyone can go to a website with real explicit content(i.e: porn) and just "waltz right in" with no type of age verification, etc.

 

[DLD]

I give YouTube my proper age bracket (49+) and I still get the Maxi Pads ads.

And I am not a female either.

 

[J Michael]

Probably the same reason Alexa is using biometrics.

 

[Jim Feeley]

Thanks.

There doesn't seem to be any minimum age requirements in the U.S., except for Google Pay.

There's this from the link above:

"For all countries not listed below, 13 is the minimum age to manage your own Google Account."