Children can't automatically sign up for email accounts like adults can. The Federal Trade Commission has established guidelines in the The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act that helps parents act as conduits when it comes to their children sharing personal information online, as they might when setting up an email account. Some email providers, like Gmail, will not allow children to set up email accounts. Other email providers like Yahoo! Mail and Hotmail will allow children to establish email accounts with the permission of a parent or guardian.
- Skill level:
- Easy
Instructions
Things you need
- Credit card
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1
Go to Mail.Yahoo.com. Select "Sign Up" under the user ID and password fields.
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2
Enter in personal information for the child--name, zip code, birth date--and select a user ID and password for the child. Then press the "Create My Account" button. You will be redirected to a consent page since the individual is not 18 years old.
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3
Enter in your Yahoo user ID and password, then press "Sign In." Or, elect to create your own Yahoo! email account on the Consent page.
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4
Enter in your child's Yahoo! ID and password again. Her name should still be saved in the name field. Then enter in your credit card details. You will be charged a one-time fee of $0.50.
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5
Hit "Place Order and Create ID." Your card will be verified and charged, and then you will be redirected to your child's email account page.
Yahoo! Mail
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1
Go to Hotmail.com. Select the "Sign Up" button and enter in your child's personal information like name and birth date, and select a user ID and password for him. Click "Continue."
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2
Press the "Get Permission Now" on the next screen, advising you that an adult will need to give permission to open this email account.
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3
Fill in the circle next to "Yes, give mychild@hotmail.com permission to use Microsoft Online Services." Then click "Continue."
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4
Fill in the circle next to either "Sign In Now" or "Create an Account" button. Select "Sign In" if you already have an account. Then enter in your user ID and password. Click "Create an Account" if you don't have a Microsoft Live user ID or password. Then enter in your own account details and pick a user ID and password. Then press "Continue."
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5
Enter in your credit card number and expiration date and press "Continue." There is no charge for this. This information is for verification purposes only and Microsoft will not keep your credit card information. Then hit "Continue" to complete the transaction and set up the account for your child.
Hotmail
Tips and warnings
- Parent-authorized email accounts will restrict children from participating in certain activities on Yahoo! or Hotmail that require their login IDs, like asking questions in Yahoo! Questions and Answers, creating a public profile, participating in chat sessions, etc. For more information, visit the Help links when setting up your child's email.
