Age-Appropriate Messaging Clause

Updated on 3 March 2026

5 min read

Doc Summary

Module: Messenger (Utsav Messenger™)
Document Type: Hybrid — Plain English + Legal Reinforcement
Trademark: Utsav Messenger™ is a trademark of MyMahotsav Futuretech Ltd
Effective Date: 24th February 2026
Version: 1.0

Part A: Plain English Summary #

Protecting Younger Users on Utsav Messenger™ #

Children and teenagers use messaging apps to connect with friends and family. This policy explains the special protections we’ve built to keep younger users safe.

The Simple Truth #

Age matters: Different protections apply based on age.
Under 13: Not allowed without parental consent (and with strict supervision).
13-17: Extra safety features by default.
No adult-minor contact without connection: Adults cannot message minors they don’t already know.
Parents have tools: Supervise your child’s account with parental controls.
We report concerns: Suspected grooming or exploitation is reported to authorities.

Part B: Legal Terms and Conditions #

1. Age Verification and Eligibility #

1.1 Minimum Age:

Users must be at least 13 years old to use Utsav Messenger™
Users under 13 may only use with verifiable parental consent and under a supervised account
Different age thresholds may apply in certain jurisdictions (16 in some EU countries)

1.2 Age Collection:

We collect date of birth during registration
We may request age verification documentation in some cases
We use age information to apply appropriate protections

1.3 Misrepresentation:

Users who misrepresent their age may have accounts terminated
Parents who discover their child misrepresented age should contact us

2. Age-Based Default Settings #

Setting	Under 13 (with consent)	13-17	18+
Who can message	Approved contacts only	Friends + friends of friends	Anyone
Who can add to groups	Parents/guardians only	Friends only	Anyone
Online status visibility	Parents only	Friends only	Everyone (adjustable)
Profile photo visibility	Contacts only	Friends + contacts	Everyone (adjustable)
Location sharing	Disabled	Disabled by default	Optional
Read receipts	On	On (adjustable)	Adjustable

3. Adult-to-Minor Messaging Restrictions #

3.1 Default Restrictions:

Adults (18+) cannot message minors (under 18) they are not connected to
Connection requires mutual friending or existing contact in device
Unsolicited messages from adults to minors are blocked

3.2 Exceptions:

Family relationships (verified or declared)
Educational or official purposes (school accounts, verified organizations)
With parental consent (explicit, documented)

3.3 Suspicious Pattern Detection:

Our systems monitor for adults attempting to contact multiple minors
Unusual patterns trigger review and potential account action

4. Grooming and Exploitation Prevention #

4.1 Prohibited Conduct:

Attempting to build trust with minors for exploitation
Sending sexual content to minors
Requesting sexual content from minors
Discussing sexual topics with minors inappropriately
Attempting to meet minors privately

4.2 Detection and Reporting:

Automated detection of grooming language patterns
Human review of flagged conversations
Mandatory reporting to relevant authorities (NCMEC, local police, etc.)
Immediate account termination upon confirmation

4.3 One-Time Warnings: No warnings for grooming-related violations—immediate permanent ban and reporting.

5. Parental Controls and Supervision #

5.1 Family Center:

Parents/guardians can link accounts to their child’s account
View connected accounts and recent contacts
Set time limits
Restrict messaging features
Receive alerts for concerning activity

5.2 Parental Consent for Under 13:

Verifiable parental consent required
Parent must link their account
Parent can approve contacts
Parent receives activity summaries

5.3 How to Set Up:

Available in Settings → Family Center
Parent and child must approve connection
Age verification may be required

6. Blocking and Reporting by Minors #

6.1 Easy Access:

Block and report features prominently displayed
Simplified reporting flow for minors
Option to include parent in report

6.2 What Happens When a Minor Reports:

Priority review (within 24 hours)
Parent notified (if Family Center connected)
Action taken within 48 hours
Minor notified of outcome

7. Age-Inappropriate Content #

7.1 Content Filtering:

Stricter content filters for minor accounts
Sexual content blocked
Violent content restricted
Profanity filtered where possible

7.2 If Minor Receives Inappropriate Content:

Content blocked where possible
Report generated automatically
Parent notified
Sender investigated

8. Data Privacy for Minors #

8.1 Enhanced Protections:

No targeted advertising to minors
No data sharing with third parties for marketing
Location services off by default
Friend lists private by default

8.2 Data Retention:

Minor account data retained only as necessary
Right to deletion strictly enforced
Parent can request deletion at any time

9. Educational Resources #

9.1 Utsav Messenger™ provides:

In-app safety tips for minors
Parent guides for monitoring
Resources on online safety
Reporting guidance

9.2 These resources are:

Age-appropriate
Multilingual
Updated regularly

10. Reporting to Authorities #

10.1 Utsav Messenger™ reports to appropriate authorities:

Any apparent child sexual abuse material
Any suspected grooming
Any threats of violence involving minors
Any credible risk of harm

10.2 Reports include:

Relevant conversation logs
Account information
IP addresses and metadata
Timestamps

11. Consequences of Violations #

11.1 Adults violating age-appropriate protections may face:

Violation	Consequence
Attempting to contact unknown minor	Warning + restriction
Repeated attempts	Account suspension
Sending inappropriate content	Immediate termination + reporting
Grooming behavior	Immediate termination + law enforcement
Sharing CSAM	Immediate termination + law enforcement reporting