Heads up, parents and former YouTube fans—you might be in line for a bit of cash from a new settlement. Google and YouTube have agreed to pay $30 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit claiming they harvested data from children under 13 for targeted advertising—without getting parental consent.
Who’s Even Eligible?
If you were under 13 and watching YouTube videos aimed at kids between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020, you might qualify—whether you had a YouTube account or not. That’s potentially 35 to 45 million people who could apply for compensation.
Attorneys estimate that if 1% to 2% of eligible folks submit valid claims (a common rate in class-action cases), your payout could land somewhere between $30 and $60 per person, before any legal fees are deducted.
A Quick Legal Timeline
- The lawsuit was sparked back in 2019 by parents and guardians who argued that Google broke federal and state privacy laws.
- A previous $170 million settlement was already made with the FTC and New York—the recent settlement extends beyond that.
- The proposed fund is still awaiting court approval, and if it’s given the green light, claims can be filed—likely online or by mail—within a few months.
