Option for "Child Account"

[Darth Nocturnis]

Hello,

I am putting this forward for the possibility of being able to create a child account as a sub-account for the Steam client.

My circumstance:
I have quite a few children as well as a number of games I purchased specifically for them (educational and recreational). The problem I run into is that the Steam client currently only supports being open/online on a single computer at a time. The Family Share option isn't really pragmatic, as my children are currently not old enough to be given an account of their own separate from mine.

What I would like to see:
I would like to see the ability to make what could be termed a "Child Account." This is not a new account with a separate e-mail, but rather a partitioned account with access to specific games. I would prefer restrictions built into this type of account to prevent any kind of abuse. The main restriction I see necessary would be "Access to children's games only." Why? Because I see no reason to lock down my entire account because my children want to play Freddie Fish or something along those lines. I also do not see why this would be an issue if the same rule of "One Person Playing a Specific Game" is kept in place.

I am not looking for the capacity to play multiplayer games within the account. I recognize and respect that aspect of the Steam client and I would not try to suggest something which bypasses that term. I also recognize that there is purpose in keeping data on the various game times and having this type of account would be helpful to that end. I also do not see the need to allow for more than one or two accounts of this type per parent account. The reason being is that the children will eventually get older and will be permitted the privilege of their own account at which point the Family Share option would become a valid option.

I hope that my dilemma is seen and recognized. Thank you for your time.

[Crazy Tiger]

You can give your children their own accounts and use family sharing and family view. Works fine.

Edit: Not saying a dedicated child account wouldn't be helpful, mind.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

You can give your children their own accounts and use family sharing and family view. Works fine.

Edit: Not saying a dedicated child account wouldn't be helpful, mind.

^This.

When setup family view, you can limit what part of Steam they're allowed to have access to, can limit the games as well what allowed to be shown. And only way to open the lock is the code you manually set, and there a cooldown as well when get the code wrong after 5 times, this way your child can't try to bruth force it, as well you can always reset the code whenever you want as well.

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

Steam Valve terms says all people must be over age 13. Therefore, they will never do child accounts as everyone 13-years and over need their own account.

The thought is good though, have child and teen accounts until a slated year set forth by the parent or guardian. Once that age limit is reached (must be over age 13 or more up to age 18), the partitioned child account becomes a full account removed from the parent account.

With this, Valve could remove the account age limit to obtain more profits while improving gamer parent morale and trust.

[Tristin]

'Gaming' starts when one can open eyes to recognize. As current best gaming platform, Steam should consider this!

[Darth Nocturnis]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

You can give your children their own accounts and use family sharing and family view. Works fine. :cozybethesda:

Edit: Not saying a dedicated child account wouldn't be helpful, mind.

I'm responding to this one, but also to the thought shared in general.

A couple factors to consider:
1) None of my children are old enough, per ToS, or mature enough to have their own created account. They don't even have an e-mail address dedicated to their names.
2) Steam has games such as "Freddie Fish" and "Pajama Sam" available to own.
3) The typical 13 year old is NOT going to play Freddie Fish and enjoy it to the fullest.

I understand that there is an option to have an account with access to the games I own. That is not the issue and I think I laid that out in my original post. The issue is that considering the collective information above, there needs to be an option to allow children at the appropriate age to play "children games" should be able to access those games without locking out my account. And I should have a way to do this which provides oversight and does not violate the ToS.

So, in short, I cannot give my children their own accounts and I need the option to do so.

[nullable]

Originally posted by Darth Nocturnis:

there needs to be an option to allow children at the appropriate age to play "children games" should be able to access those games without locking out my account.

While it's understandable why you have this opinion, the short answer is no. You're free to your opinions that certain games should be treated differently than "big boy" games. The developers of those children's games might not agree that their games are so inconsequential that normal license terms don't apply though.

Originally posted by Darth Nocturnis:

And I should have a way to do this which provides oversight and does not violate the ToS.

So, in short, I cannot give my children their own accounts and I need the option to do so.

You can. Your choice to interpret the SSA pedantically because you imagine if you try to paint yourself into a corner Valve will have to accommodate you is a bit silly. Millions of other people have managed to navigate this, you're hardly the first person with under 13 children.

The reality is you're an adult, you're allowed to create accounts. And your children can use those accounts. If you refuse to use available options, that's not a real problem. And doesn't necessitate the system to change to accommodate you.

If you really want to be that pedantic, then your children can't use Steam per your interpretation and it doesn't matter there are children's games sold on the platform. Valve doesn't need to change their policies because you have small children. No one is forcing you to suffer through self-imposed consequences.

[AmsterdamHeavy]

Has the OP checked to see if those kid's games are using Steam DRM?

[Start_Running]

No you are not going to be given the ability to run a game shop out of your library. Sorry OP

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by Darth Nocturnis:

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

You can give your children their own accounts and use family sharing and family view. Works fine.

Edit: Not saying a dedicated child account wouldn't be helpful, mind.

I'm responding to this one, but also to the thought shared in general.

A couple factors to consider:
1) None of my children are old enough, per ToS, or mature enough to have their own created account. They don't even have an e-mail address dedicated to their names.
2) Steam has games such as "Freddie Fish" and "Pajama Sam" available to own.
3) The typical 13 year old is NOT going to play Freddie Fish and enjoy it to the fullest.

I understand that there is an option to have an account with access to the games I own. That is not the issue and I think I laid that out in my original post. The issue is that considering the collective information above, there needs to be an option to allow children at the appropriate age to play "children games" should be able to access those games without locking out my account. And I should have a way to do this which provides oversight and does not violate the ToS.

So, in short, I cannot give my children their own accounts and I need the option to do so.

1. Correct if below the age they're not allow to create one. You could make it, and manage it for the time being, just don't brag it out to support, but that up to you, or wait until they're 13 years old.

2. That doesn't matter.
3. Again doesn't matter some people may actually play them, or not. Look at Lego, my case & point.

[76561197960287930]

Parents.

https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/

"You may not become a Subscriber if you are under the age of 13.
Steam is not intended for children under 13 and Valve will not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. Additional age restrictions may apply in your country."

"You may not reveal, share or otherwise allow others to use your password or Account except as otherwise specifically authorized by Valve."

Nowhere in the SSA dose it specifically say that shared child accounts, or under 13 are authorized by Valve.

https://store.steampowered.com/privacy_agreement/?snr=1_44_44_

"7. Children
The minimum age to create a Steam User Account is 13. Valve will not knowingly collect Personal Data from children under this age. Where certain countries apply a higher age of consent for the collection of Personal Data, Valve requires parental consent before a Steam User Account can be created and Personal Data associated with it collected.
Valve encourages parents to instruct their children to never give out personal information when online."

Uncertain where this parental consent is to be given. Otherwise they will collect your child's data unknowingly.

https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/6B1A-66BE-E911-3D98

"Setting up Family View
We encourage you to create a Steam account with your child. If there are features of Steam that you would like to exclude from the experience, you can restrict access using Family View. You may also choose to enable Family View on your own Steam account if you would rather they share your Steam Account."

Doesn't this still go against shared accounts and children under 13? And again what of that permission to authorize and collect the data of your child?

Epic Game's was government fined for COPA violations, that is data collection of underage users data, thus they have now created legitimate Cabined Accounts for parents / children to use. https : //www . epicgames . com/site/en-US/cabinedaccounts

I guess if and when Valve is ever investigated for COPA they'll continue to maintain that Steam isn't for children under 13, or shared accounts, says so in the SSA, like EPIC did, and still get fined.

[76561199763223795]

just give your kid your steam account

[76561199763223795]

if cant

[Clement]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.