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How do I use Stack Exchange if I'm under 13 years old?

I was just reading the Terms of Service, and noticed something:

Subscriber certifies to Stack Overflow that if Subscriber is an individual (i.e., not a corporate entity), Subscriber is at least 13 years of age. No one under the age of 13 may provide any personal information to or on Stack Overflow (including, for example, a name, address, telephone number or email address).

I signed up for Stack Overflow when I was around 11 or 12 and I did provide my email address. Are you saying that my use of Stack Overflow was not legal?

I'm 13 now (so I'm in the clear), but that just seems a little harsh. Is that possibly related to the age limit for accepting a binding contract/agreement (although I thought that was 18 in the U.S.)?

Is there a way for those under the age of 13 to use the site legally?

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Maxim Zaslavsky
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