There's really nothing anyone can do to prevent it. The signup page requires you to say you're at least 13, but we've had grown men sign up their children, so what message is that sending to the child?
The potential for harm to children exists on every web site. The internet is not a safe place for the innocent, and it's up to parents to educate their children on the dangers and supervise their internet use. Kids with uncaring parents can get into just as much trouble at the local shopping mall.
There's nothing to stop people from reporting apparently underage people here to the site owner.
-Removed-@Tygert: "Last moved 498 days 23 hours and 3 minutes ago"
"My real name is Tyger. I am 14 years old and go to Bishop's College in Cape Town, South Africa. Hence my username is pronounced Tyger T separately. I play chess for fun and as a mental exercise, nothing more. I will jump at any opportunity to improve my cerebral capacity. I have taught myself everything I know about this game except for how the pieces move. I love to chat during games; it makes it more interesting. At the moment I am taking skulls because I want to get a rating above 1600. Take mine.
Opening preferences: Queen's Gambit, Italian Game and English Opening as white. The Najdorf Sicilian, Scandinavian Defence and Caro-Kann against 1.e4 and Baltic Defence, Gruenfeld Defence against 1.d4 as black.
Move once a day on weekdays but more on weekends.
Let's play!
Subscriber as of 10th of May 2013. Periodically stop moving frequently every May, June, November and December because of my exams."