As a fellow wiz head who has been playing for 6 years. Do the math if you must but when I made my account I wasn't eligible for open chat. It is 2018 now and I'm obviously eligible along with many other people. I just don't think its fair for the players who have been playing for so long to be limited to such chatting options. what are your opinions on this problem? because I know I'm not the only one.
As a fellow wiz head who has been playing for 6 years. Do the math if you must but when I made my account I wasn't eligible for open chat. It is 2018 now and I'm obviously eligible along with many other people. I just don't think its fair for the players who have been playing for so long to be limited to such chatting options. what are your opinions on this problem? because I know I'm not the only one.
The chat system was designed inline with child online protection policies and in compliance with the E10 rating the game has achieved.
Under 13's get menu chat to protect them from harm they may not have the cognitive ability to deal with yet. This could be anything from an unkind comment to overhearing something they (or their parents) would not want them hearing yet to an actual predator. This can be changed at any age by the parent if they are comfortable with their child having text chat and confident their child has the ability to stay safe using text chat.
When Wiz started there were only 2 types of chat - menu chat and text chat. Open chat was a later addition when KI discovered there were a lot of adults enjoying their game too. Adults found the restrictions on chat especially frustrating and (for them) unnecessary. They asked KI to look at a 3rd option that would give them the freedom of a wider vocabulary and ability to chat with adult friends more fluently.
KI appreciated why adults wanted this and set up Open Chat. To comply with child protection laws and keep their E10 certification it had to be for over 18's only. This is simple for those over 13 when they start but gets more complicated for those who were under 13.
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act 1998 is a federal law that prevents companies from holding information about anyone under 13. You've said 'do the math' and it makes sense that if your account was made 6 years ago you are now 6 years older...but if you were under 13 they can not tell if you were 12 or 2. Any fool knows 2 year olds are not playing wiz but the law doesn't negotiate or consider this. Moreover, it is illegal for any company to attempt to work out the age of someone using their site or services if that person may be under 13...so 'doing the math' is literally illegal.
My opinion: COPPA was written by people who know nothing about children, psychology or running online businesses/services. It needs updating!
The chat system was designed inline with child online protection policies and in compliance with the E10 rating the game has achieved.
Under 13's get menu chat to protect them from harm they may not have the cognitive ability to deal with yet. This could be anything from an unkind comment to overhearing something they (or their parents) would not want them hearing yet to an actual predator. This can be changed at any age by the parent if they are comfortable with their child having text chat and confident their child has the ability to stay safe using text chat.
When Wiz started there were only 2 types of chat - menu chat and text chat. Open chat was a later addition when KI discovered there were a lot of adults enjoying their game too. Adults found the restrictions on chat especially frustrating and (for them) unnecessary. They asked KI to look at a 3rd option that would give them the freedom of a wider vocabulary and ability to chat with adult friends more fluently.
KI appreciated why adults wanted this and set up Open Chat. To comply with child protection laws and keep their E10 certification it had to be for over 18's only. This is simple for those over 13 when they start but gets more complicated for those who were under 13.
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act 1998 is a federal law that prevents companies from holding information about anyone under 13. You've said 'do the math' and it makes sense that if your account was made 6 years ago you are now 6 years older...but if you were under 13 they can not tell if you were 12 or 2. Any fool knows 2 year olds are not playing wiz but the law doesn't negotiate or consider this. Moreover, it is illegal for any company to attempt to work out the age of someone using their site or services if that person may be under 13...so 'doing the math' is literally illegal.
My opinion: COPPA was written by people who know nothing about children, psychology or running online businesses/services. It needs updating!
Your post was well written . In my opinion, I agree: COPPA needs to be updated so online game companies are allowed to let a child who started playing under 13 to receive Open Chat on their 18th birthday by storing their age or something. That would make it more fair gain to that child .
. In my opinion, I agree: COPPA needs to be updated so online game companies are allowed to let a child who started playing under 13 to receive Open Chat on their 18th birthday by storing their age or something. That would make it more fair gain to that child 
.