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I've several children, and can no longer make Google accounts for their Chromebooks. All the phone numbers I have and control can no longer be used to register

I've several children, and can no longer make Google accounts for their Chromebooks. All the phone numbers I have and control can no longer be used to register further accounts. What happens to users that buy a new Android cell phone who's number has been burned by Google?

antocv 10y ago
This is the time to get to know https://mail.yandex.com https://mail.yandex.com Seriously, the interface is so much better than todays gmail, its astonishing. There is no spam either, and no ads.
- jasonjayr 10y ago
  The email account is not the issue; I run my own email server with all the fun that brings. It's that the Chrome Books really need separate Google accounts otherwise, settings + notifications to end up replicated to all of them. And yes, I have a greater than average number of children. I feel as if the only way forward is to purchase a google for business account, and add them all there :-/
  - ensignavenger 10y ago
    Install a different Linux distro on them?
- IsmaOlvey 10y ago
  Anyone have any experiences with their support?
givinguflac 10y ago
Ironically you could create google voice numbers as a workaround
- mfkp 10y ago
  IIRC Google doesn't allow using Google Voice numbers for account verification (or other known VOIP number blocks).
  - delecti 10y ago
    One workaround is to use a number and then port it to Google Voice.
js2 10y ago
You should be aware that Google has minimum age requirements. I was not aware of this and my son disclosed his age to Google as part of setting up another Google service, which then locked out his account. https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1350409?hl=en https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1350409?hl=en I switched to Fastmail after that.
- mobilefriendly 10y ago
  Google's subject to U.S. law, they can't knowingly maintain a child's personal data without parental consent (which is a manual process). There are also further restrictions on the types of marketing they can do to children. It is fine if the product, like gmail, doesn't target children and they don't collect age info, but once they do know age they've got to either get consent (costly) or shut down the account.
  - js2 10y ago
    That's okay with me and I wasn't criticizing Google, just stating what happened. My recollection was that I was able to get the account re-activated by providing a CC #, but once I was aware it was in violation of the ToS, I switched to a different provider.

antocv 10y ago

This is the time to get to know https://mail.yandex.com https://mail.yandex.com Seriously, the interface is so much better than todays gmail, its astonishing. There is no spam either, and no ads.

jasonjayr 10y ago
The email account is not the issue; I run my own email server with all the fun that brings. It's that the Chrome Books really need separate Google accounts otherwise, settings + notifications to end up replicated to all of them. And yes, I have a greater than average number of children. I feel as if the only way forward is to purchase a google for business account, and add them all there :-/
- ensignavenger 10y ago
  Install a different Linux distro on them?
IsmaOlvey 10y ago
Anyone have any experiences with their support?

givinguflac 10y ago

Ironically you could create google voice numbers as a workaround

mfkp 10y ago
IIRC Google doesn't allow using Google Voice numbers for account verification (or other known VOIP number blocks).
- delecti 10y ago
  One workaround is to use a number and then port it to Google Voice.

js2 10y ago

You should be aware that Google has minimum age requirements. I was not aware of this and my son disclosed his age to Google as part of setting up another Google service, which then locked out his account. https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1350409?hl=en https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1350409?hl=en I switched to Fastmail after that.

mobilefriendly 10y ago
Google's subject to U.S. law, they can't knowingly maintain a child's personal data without parental consent (which is a manual process). There are also further restrictions on the types of marketing they can do to children. It is fine if the product, like gmail, doesn't target children and they don't collect age info, but once they do know age they've got to either get consent (costly) or shut down the account.
- js2 10y ago
  That's okay with me and I wasn't criticizing Google, just stating what happened. My recollection was that I was able to get the account re-activated by providing a CC #, but once I was aware it was in violation of the ToS, I switched to a different provider.