Reasonable measures which forestall some problems associated with interactions between naïve children, adult predators, and sting operations by law enforcement are appropriate.

All users, including children, are permitted to edit anonymously without submitting identifying information. Reasonable efforts to discourage children from disclosing identifying personal information are appropriate.

Users who seriously disrupt Wikipedia may be banned. Users who self-identify as children, project a sexually tinged persona, and disclose personal information such as links to sites devoted to social interaction are engaging in disruptive behavior and may be banned. Note that self-identified children may in fact be adults posing as children for a variety of reasons.

When a user self-identifies as a child, especially if they provide personal information, the matter is frequently a subject of discussion among administrators. Sometimes the user is immature and ends up being blocked for disruption. If they are not disruptive, personal information may be removed and the user advised as shown below.^[1]

Response[edit]

Users who disrupt Wikipedia by posing as children, projecting a provocative persona, and disclosing personal information may be banned on a case-by-case basis.

Users who appear to be children editing in good faith who disclose identifying personal information should be informed of the potential dangers of such disclosure. They should be advised that disclosing personal information is a bad idea and is potentially dangerous. Deletion and oversight may be used in appropriate cases to remove the information.

See also[edit]

• Wikipedia:Child protection
• Wikipedia:Guidance for younger editors
• Wikipedia:Advice for parents
• Wikipedia:Minors and persons judged incompetent (essay on editing about them)
• Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Protecting children's privacy
• Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

References[edit]