Google+ has now lowered its age requirement from 18 to 13 years old. This means that young adults can now create their own Google+ account. As explained by Google’s Vice President of Product Management Bradley Horowitz:

“Teens and young adults are the most active Internet users on the planet. And surprise, surprise: They’re also human beings who enjoy spending time with friends and family. Put these two things together and it’s clear that teens will increasingly connect online.

“With Google+, we want to help teens build meaningful connections online. We also want to provide features that foster safety alongside self-expression. Today, we’re doing both for everyone who’s old enough for a Google account (13+ in most countries).”

Google+ for Teens

Although 13-year-old Internet users are likely to join Google+, the social network provides features that promote safety and self-expression for teens. With Google+ Circles, they can avoid over-sharing of information. The network also has a warning screen for its young users who might click the Share All button. Also, they can control who can see their status update.

As Horowitz explained on his status update:

“In life, for instance, teens can share the right things with just the right people (like classmates, parents or close ties). Over time, the nuance and richness of selective sharing even promotes authenticity and accountability.”

Another feature of Google+ for teens is the Hangout Lockout. Horowitz added:

“Google+ Hangouts bring people together using live multi-person video, and the results range from heartwarming to awe-inspiring. However, we recognize that connecting face-to-face is special and serious, so if a stranger outside a teen’s Circles joins the hangout, we temporarily remove the young adult, and give them a chance to rejoin.”

Google+’s features are still the same, although they’re offering further safety precautions for their young users. The social network’s newly launched Safety Center details these changes. Regardless of this, it only boils down to one thing: Promote safe online behavior by offering appropriate default features and in-product help.

While Google+ offers unique features for the young adults, its decision to lower the age requirement is a bit late. This is one thing that they should’ve offered during the launch. Additionally, it’s best to attract adult users who post content on a weekly basis. Nevertheless, encouraging teenagers to join the seven-month old social network means an expansion of user base. This is one thing that businesses who have Google+ page can take into their advantage.