Youth Safety Policy
What a student under 18 can and cannot do on Volanee, and what the app enforces automatically.
Enforced by the app
| Rule | How |
|---|---|
| Minimum age 13 | Date of birth at signup; under-13 accounts cannot be created |
| A parent or guardian approves a student who joins on their own | Until a parent or guardian signs, the account can look around and track hours but can’t sign up, request shadowing, add friends or message anyone. A student who joins through their school or club is covered by the school’s own consent. |
| Parents can follow along | A linked parent sees sign-ups and confirmed hours, and is told when their teen signs up for a paid internship. Parents don’t approve each sign-up. |
| Volunteering: 4 hours per shift at most | Longer shifts can’t be signed up for by minors |
| Volunteering: nothing ending after 8:00 PM on a school night | Blocked at sign-up |
| No paid jobs under 18: internships only | Paid jobs are 18 and up. Paid internships open to minors follow federal and Ohio child labor hours and kinds of work (see the Job Posting Policy), checked when posted and when a student signs up, and reviewed by a person first. |
| Age minimums by category (for example shadowing 16+, hazardous work 18+) | Blocked at sign-up |
| Only verified organizations take on minors | An organization must be verified by Volanee before it can accept a student under 18 |
| No money asked of students | Paid job posts and their questions can’t ask for money, fees or financial details; any request for money from a student can be reported and leads to removal |
| Address and phone hidden until acceptance | Only a neighborhood is shown |
Not enforced by the app
Rules for minors vary by state and by setting; hospitals and some organizations set higher ages or ask for documents such as a TB test. Employers must get any work permit their state requires. Volanee’s limits are conservative defaults, not legal advice. Organizations must follow the law where the opportunity takes place; parents and guardians should know what their state requires.
Reporting
Any concern about a minor’s safety is a critical report. It freezes the placement, suspends the reported adult pending review, preserves evidence, and alerts a person. Where required, Volanee reports to law enforcement or child protective services.
Attorney review. This document was drafted by Volanee to reflect how the product actually works. It should be reviewed by a licensed attorney in each state of operation, and updated when laws change. Questions: legal@volanee.app.