> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL. > For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.pixalate.com/llms.txt. > For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.pixalate.com/_mcp/server. # COPPA reason codes > Every COPPA Audience reason code and COPPA Violation Risk outcome for mobile apps (Google Play, Apple App Store) and CTV apps (Roku, Amazon Fire TV), with the signals that lead to each risk level. Each COPPA Audience assessment and COPPA Violation Risk rating comes with a reason code: a sentence that names the signals behind the result. You see reason codes in the [Media Ratings Terminal](/mrt/insights), in [Analytics compliance reports](/analytics/compliance-reports), and in the `coppaAudienceReason` and `coppaViolationRiskReason` fields of the [Enrichment API](/apis/enrichment-api). For field definitions, see the [COPPA data dictionary](/compliance/coppa-data-dictionary). ## COPPA Audience: mobile apps ![COPPA section of an app report](/_fern-img/d4e2d683d1a75d2498ca5c22cddb5c4146416ce717c14d904acee76643148d8c.webp) In the reason text, `<>` is replaced with the app's actual content rating in its store, for example "Everyone" or "4+". For which ratings and categories apply, see [the data dictionary](/compliance/coppa-data-dictionary#app-store-categories). Pixalate uses both app stores to assess an app, so a Google Play app's reason code can cite its iOS version, and the reverse. ### Likely directed to children | OS | Reason code | | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | iOS | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the app is in Kids & Family Category and Age Rating is `<>` | | iOS | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the app is in Education Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | iOS | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the app is in Games Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | iOS | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the app is in Entertainment Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | iOS | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the Android version of app is in Family Category and Age Rating is `<>` | | iOS | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the Android version of app is in Games Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | iOS | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the Android version of app is in Education Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | iOS | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the Android version of app is in Entertainment Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | iOS | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the Android version of app is in Google’s Teacher Approved program | | iOS | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) based on manual review | | Android | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the app is in Family Category and Age Rating is `<>` | | Android | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the app is in Games Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | Android | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the app is in Education Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | Android | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the app is in Entertainment Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | Android | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the app is in Google’s Teacher Approved program | | Android | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the iOS version of this app is in Kids & Family Category and Age Rating is `<>` | | Android | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the iOS version of this app is in Games Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | Android | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the iOS version of this app is in Education Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | Android | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) because the iOS version of this app is in Entertainment Category and Age Rating is `<>` and app name or description contains child related keywords | | Android | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) based on manual review | ### Likely general audience | OS | Reason code | | --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | iOS and Android | This app is likely General Audience. It did not meet the criteria of Pixalate’s child-directed assessment. | | iOS and Android | This app is likely General Audience based on manual review. | ## COPPA Violation Risk: mobile apps The risk rating combines the audience assessment with the app's sensitive permissions, privacy policy, residential IP and location signals. The table lists every possible outcome and the signals its reason code names. A dash means the reason code doesn't name that signal. | # | Likely directed to children | Sensitive permissions | Privacy policy detected | Passes residential IP | Passes location | COPPA risk | | - | --------------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------- | --------------------- | --------------- | ---------- | | 1 | No | – | – | – | – | Low | | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | – | Medium | | 3 | Yes | No | Yes | – | – | Medium | | 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | High | | 5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | High | | 6 | Yes | – | Yes | – | Yes | High | | 7 | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | – | High | | 8 | Yes | – | No | – | – | Critical | Reason codes, numbered to match the table: 1. The COPPA risk is low because the app is likely not directed to children under 13. 2. The COPPA risk is medium because the app is likely directed to children under 13, and it has sensitive permissions. The app has a privacy policy detected as required by the COPPA Rule. 3. The COPPA risk is medium because the app is likely directed to children under 13, but does not have sensitive permissions. The app has a privacy policy detected. 4. The COPPA risk is high because the app is likely directed to children under 13, it has sensitive permissions, and it passes residential IP data. The app has a privacy policy detected. 5. The COPPA risk is high because the app is likely directed to children under 13, it has sensitive permissions, and it passes location information. The app has a privacy policy detected. 6. The COPPA risk is high because the app is likely directed to children under 13, and it passes location information. The app has a privacy policy detected. 7. The COPPA risk is high because the app is likely directed to children under 13, and it passes residential IP data. The app has a privacy policy detected. 8. The COPPA risk is critical because the app is likely directed to children under 13, and it does not have a privacy policy detected as required by the COPPA rule. An app assessed as likely general audience always gets a low risk rating. ## COPPA Audience: CTV apps CTV COPPA assessments cover apps in the Amazon Fire TV and Roku app stores. | Store | Reason code | Result | | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | | Fire TV | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) based on manual review. | Likely child-directed | | Roku | This app is likely directed to children (including mixed audience) based on manual review. | Likely child-directed | | Fire TV | This app is likely general audience based on manual review. | Likely general audience | | Roku | This app is likely general audience based on manual review. | Likely general audience | | Fire TV | This app has not yet been reviewed under Pixalate’s automated or manual methodology. The default likely target audience for this app is General Audience. | Likely general audience (default) | | Roku | This app has not yet been reviewed under Pixalate’s automated or manual methodology. The default likely target audience for this app is General Audience. | Likely general audience (default) | ## COPPA Violation Risk: CTV apps | # | Likely directed to children | Privacy policy detected | Passes residential IP in the bidstream | Passes location in the bidstream | COPPA risk | | - | --------------------------- | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ---------- | | 1 | No | – | – | – | Low | | 2 | Yes | Yes | No | No | Medium | | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | High | | 4 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | High | | 5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | High | | 6 | Yes | No | – | – | Critical | Reason codes, numbered to match the table: 1. The COPPA risk is low because the app is likely not directed to children under 13. 2. The COPPA risk is medium because the app is likely directed to children under 13, and it is not passing residential IP or location information. It has a privacy policy as required by the COPPA Rule. 3. The COPPA risk is high because the app is likely directed to children under 13, and it passes residential IP and location information. It has a privacy policy as required by the COPPA Rule. 4. The COPPA risk is high because the app is likely directed to children under 13, and it passes location information. It has a privacy policy as required by the COPPA Rule. 5. The COPPA risk is high because the app is likely directed to children under 13, and it passes residential IP. It has a privacy policy as required by the COPPA Rule. 6. The COPPA risk is critical because the app is likely directed to children under 13, and it does not have a privacy policy as required by the COPPA Rule. ## Methodology For the full methodology, see Pixalate's [COPPA methodology for mobile apps](https://www.pixalate.com/coppa-compliance-tools-methodology) and [COPPA methodology for CTV apps](https://www.pixalate.com/coppa-ctv-methodology). If you disagree with an app's assessment, use **Suggest Edit** next to the COPPA Audience result on the app's MRT Insights page, or contact [support@pixalate.com](mailto:support@pixalate.com). ## Disclaimer Pixalate's COPPA Compliance Tools render opinions that Pixalate believes may be useful to our clients and others in the digital media industry. It is important to note, however, that the mere fact that an app appears to be directed to children (e.g., data subjects under 13 years of age, as defined by the COPPA Rule) does not mean that any such app, or its operator, is failing to comply with the COPPA Rule. Further, with respect to apps that appear to be child-directed and have characteristics that, in Pixalate's opinion, may trigger related privacy obligations and/or risk, such assertions reflect Pixalate's opinions (i.e., they are neither facts nor guarantees); and, although Pixalate's methodologies used to render such opinions are derived from a combination of automated processing coupled with significant human intervention, no assurances can be – or are – given by Pixalate with respect to the accuracy of any such opinions.