Notice to Parents

The Hershey Company operates a variety of websites and digital services that may include product details, advertising, promotions, contests, entertainment, career information, corporate resources, and shopping features. Because certain activities involve interactive functions, commercial content, or the collection of personal information, some areas may be intended mainly for adults or older teenagers. The company aims to provide an appropriate online environment for different audiences and does not intentionally design its digital experiences to attract children under thirteen.

Marketing activities take the intended audience’s age into account. The company does not knowingly use advertising aimed at children under thirteen to encourage them to visit its websites. Depending on the website or service, additional administrative or technical measures may help manage access to particular features. These measures are intended to support appropriate use while recognizing that different digital offerings may serve different audiences.

The legal definition of a child varies by country, state, and other jurisdiction. Some privacy laws identify thirteen as a relevant age, while others establish a higher threshold, such as sixteen, or another legally defined limit. The company considers these differences when providing digital services and handling information about younger visitors. Applicable privacy practices may therefore depend on a person’s location and the rules governing the specific service.

Additional safeguards may be used when a website feature could involve information from a younger visitor. Depending on the service, children and teenagers may be asked to involve a parent or legal guardian before sharing personal details, creating an account, entering a promotion, submitting material, or attempting a transaction. These notices are intended to help younger users understand when adult guidance may be appropriate and reduce the likelihood of information being provided without suitable oversight.

Some interactive features may require visitors to confirm that they meet a minimum age. An age prompt or similar control may appear before someone can use account functions, participate in promotions, submit content, or access other features involving personal information. If a visitor indicates that they do not meet the applicable age requirement, access to the restricted feature may be denied or limited. The controls used can vary according to the service and the information involved.

Cookies and comparable technologies may help maintain certain age-related settings. For example, a website may retain information about a visitor’s age selection so that a restriction remains in place during a later visit. This may discourage repeated attempts to bypass an age prompt by returning to the same feature or changing an earlier response. These technologies can support access controls, but they cannot guarantee that every inaccurate age statement or attempt to avoid a restriction will be detected.

Children’s privacy is also addressed through the company’s broader information practices. Applicable privacy notices explain how personal information may be collected, used, stored, shared, and protected when people interact with digital services. Parents and guardians can review those notices to learn what information may be involved, why it may be processed, and when it may be shared with service providers or other parties.

Depending on the law that applies, parents or legal guardians may have rights concerning a child’s personal information. These may include asking to review information, request corrections or deletion, or raise concerns about how data has been handled. The rights available can vary based on jurisdiction, the child’s age, the type of information, and the circumstances. Verification may be required before information is provided or a requested action is completed.

Parental guidance remains an important part of online safety. Website restrictions and technical safeguards can be useful, but they do not replace supervision and communication within a family. Parents and guardians are encouraged to discuss safe internet use with younger people and explain why personal information should be protected. Children should understand that names, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, passwords, photographs, and other identifying details should not be shared online without appropriate permission.

Families may also consider safety and privacy tools offered by their devices, browsers, operating systems, and internet providers. Parental controls, account limits, privacy settings, and similar features can provide additional ways to manage the online services available to younger users. Reviewing these tools together can help parents understand the digital environments their children use and set boundaries suited to their age and circumstances.

No age-checking method can completely prevent someone from entering inaccurate information. A visitor may provide an incorrect birth date or otherwise misstate their age, and technical safeguards cannot eliminate every effort to bypass restrictions. The company’s website controls are therefore intended to complement, rather than replace, parental guidance. Parents and guardians continue to play an important role in helping younger users participate safely online.

Age restrictions may differ across website content and activities. General information about products, brands, company operations, or educational topics may be available without the same controls used for account registration, promotional entry, content submission, or purchases. Restrictions are generally connected to the activity, the information requested, and the potential risks associated with the feature.

Marketing communications are also considered with age appropriateness in mind. Advertising is not intentionally designed to persuade children under thirteen to visit company websites. When communications are intended for older teenagers or adults, their content and presentation may reflect the characteristics of those audiences. This approach helps distinguish younger children from groups for whom particular products, services, or online activities may be more suitable.

The company may periodically evaluate its practices relating to younger visitors and children’s privacy. Changes in privacy laws, technology, website functions, advertising methods, and expectations about digital safety may affect how these practices are managed. When digital features are introduced or revised, their potential impact on younger users may be considered as part of the development and review process.

Age-related safeguards may be updated when additional protection is needed or when legal and technical standards change. The objective is to maintain measures reasonably suited to each digital experience while continuing to provide useful services to their intended audiences. Since technology and regulatory requirements evolve, privacy and age-related practices may also be revised over time.

Parents or guardians who believe that a child’s information may have been submitted through a company website can contact the appropriate privacy or customer support channel for assistance. Details about the situation may help the responsible team understand the request and determine what steps may be available. Requests concerning a child’s personal information may require reasonable verification before action is taken, helping prevent unauthorized disclosure or changes.

Visitors should also take care when entering personal information into interactive website features. When a service requests details, users should read the relevant notices and understand the purpose of the request. Younger visitors should seek guidance from a parent or guardian when required or whenever they are unsure whether it is appropriate to provide particular information.

Protecting children online requires more than one technical safeguard. Thoughtful website design, age-appropriate marketing, privacy practices, access restrictions, clear notices, secure information handling, and parental involvement can work together to support a safer digital experience. Each measure addresses a different concern, and their combined use may help reduce risks for younger users.

The company recognizes that children may encounter digital content in different ways and that no single approach can address every circumstance. Practices may therefore be reviewed as websites evolve, new interactive services are introduced, and privacy expectations change. Staying attentive to applicable laws and technological developments supports ongoing efforts to protect children’s privacy.

Parents and guardians with questions about age limits, children’s information, privacy rights, or website safeguards may use the company’s designated contact channels to request further information. Providing relevant details can help the responsible team identify the procedures that apply. Where required by law, verification may be requested before information concerning a child is accessed, modified, or disclosed.

This approach is intended to provide appropriate safeguards for younger visitors while preserving useful digital experiences for the audiences the services are designed to serve. By combining privacy protections, age-conscious practices, technical controls, responsible marketing, and parental involvement, the company seeks to support an online environment that treats children’s privacy carefully and adapts to changing legal and technological expectations.

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