YouTube has a very strict policy when it comes to the users looking for an account on the popular online video sharing service. If you didn't know, you're not allowed to register an account on YouTube if you're not over 13 years old. However, the parent company Google allows the persons with ages between 13 and 17 to register for an account if their parents allow them to do this. The interesting fact is that YouTube sustains this thing helps them protect the privacy of the users because younger members can be easily tricked to reveal their original identity and private details.

"We understand that young people, when properly supervised by their parents, are capable of making valuable and significant contributions to the YouTube community, but we also respect the limitations in place to protect how personal information of people under the age of 13 can be stored and used. This is why YouTube, like many other websites, limits registration to people 13 and older," the YouTube team said today.

If you want to register an account and you are under 13 years old, the online video sharing service returns you an interesting message: "Sorry. Based on the information you have submitted to us, you are ineligible to register for YouTube.com." However, it's extremely easy to change your real birth date and obtain a YouTube account so I guess the online video sharing is not too well protected against kids' registration attempts.

The online video sharing service YouTube was acquired in October 2006 by Google, the Mountain View company that paid no less than $1.65 billion. Since the acquisition was confirmed, YouTube received a lot of new goodies but there were also several problems caused for the parent firm. Take the example of the avalanche of lawsuits involving YouTube because a lot of Internet companies and celebrities sued the search giant for copyright infringement.