WhatsApp introduces parental control feature for children

The feature, called Parent Managed Accounts, will enable parents to supervise their children’s WhatsApp usage.

WhatsApp has introduced a new feature aimed at improving online safety for children under the age of 13, allowing parents to manage and control their kids’ accounts.

The feature, called Parent Managed Accounts, will enable parents to supervise their children’s WhatsApp usage. According to a statement issued by Meta Platforms, these accounts will only allow basic messaging and calling features.

The initiative is designed to enhance online protection for young users. By default, the accounts will come with strict privacy and safety settings, while parents will be given several controls over their children’s activity.

Parents will be able to decide who can contact their children, which groups they can join, and adjust privacy settings accordingly. Despite parental controls, conversations on these accounts will still be protected with end-to-end encryption.

However, children’s accounts will not have access to features such as Meta AI, Channels, or Status.

To activate the feature, both the parent’s device and the child’s device will be required. The two accounts will be connected through a QR code, allowing parents to manage the account after linking.

According to the company, once the child turns 13 years old, parents will receive a notification offering the option to convert the managed account into a standard WhatsApp account.

Meta said the feature will be rolled out to users globally in the coming months.