Success Case: Protecting Young Users in the Digital Age
27.05.2025
Co-author: Sofiya Rogers.
At Sterling Law, we were recently approached by a tech start-up with an exciting new app idea aimed at teenagers. With investor funding already secured and a sleek user interface in development, the founders turned to us for help with an equally critical component: their website documentation. Specifically, they needed a Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, and a Cookie Policy—not just to comply with legal obligations, but to protect their young users and the business itself.
Why These Documents Matter
In an era of growing digital scrutiny and increasing regulatory enforcement, legal documents are no longer tick-box exercises. For apps targeting or accessible to children and teenagers, website documentation serves as a shield—protecting users from harm and businesses from liability.
Here’s why each document plays a vital role:
Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy is a foundational legal document that informs users how their personal data is collected, used, stored, and shared. For apps targeting young users this document becomes not just a legal requirement, but a line of defence against harm.
Many young users are active online but don’t realise how much personal information they’re giving away. Without proper safeguards, apps can collect, store, and share that data with third parties—or even leave it exposed online. Therefore, drafting the privacy police with tighter controls means a safer online experience that’s free from covert data exploitation.
Terms and Conditions
The Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) are more than just a legal formality—they are the contract that governs how your platform is used, what is expected from users, and how misuse is handled. This becomes especially prevalent when your service is designed for the largest audience to be young users. Incorrectly drafted Terms and Conditions unsafe unregulated content, harmful interctions without recourse and so on.
For our client we tailored the Terms and Conditions to addres:
- Parental Consent Mechanisms
- Clear Moderation Processes
- Account Suspension Policies
- Procedures for abuse and inappropriate behaviour
Cookie Policy
Finally, cookies are small text files placed on a user’s device that store information about their online activity. While they help personalise user experience and improve app functionality, they can also be used to track users, profile behaviour, and target advertising—practices that pose serious risks when young users are involved. Accordingly, it is essential to clear all cookies used by the website to ensure that no unnecessary data is retained.
Why This Is Urgent
While cookies are useful tools that enhance functionality and personalise the user experience, they also carry significant privacy risks. Small data files can be leveraged to track behaviour, build user profiles, and deliver targeted advertising, often without the user’s full understanding or informed consent.
However, when young users are involved, the stakes are significantly higher. That’s why we worked closely with our client to develop comprehensive website documentation—designed not only to protect the app and the company, but, most importantly, to safeguard the users themselves.
At Sterling Law, we ensure our clients meet the highest standards under GDPR—not just complying with the law, but to building safer, more trustworthy digital environments.
