WhatsApp has introduced new parental controls for teenagers, providing a range of options for parents to monitor and manage their child's activity on the platform. The controls are designed to give parents more visibility and control over their child's interactions, while maintaining the privacy and security of the child's personal messages. According to WhatsApp, the controls are optional and can be adjusted or switched off at any time.
The new controls allow parents to decide on privacy settings for their child's account, including who can see their profile photo and who can add them to groups. Parents can also choose how their teenager uses Channels, a feature that allows organisations and public figures to send out content. Additionally, parents can select the default 13+ setting for Meta AI, the app's optional built-in AI assistant, or opt for a stricter "Limited Content" option.
WhatsApp has clarified that parents will not have access to their child's personal messages or calls, which will remain private and protected by end-to-end encryption. The controls are designed to support open conversations between parents and teens about how to use WhatsApp, while keeping everyone's personal messages private. According to social media analyst Matt Navarra, the move is "fairly convenient" for Meta, which owns WhatsApp, as it reduces the company's reliance on age verification.
The introduction of parental controls comes as pressure mounts on tech companies from governments and regulators to change the way they operate to better protect children using their platforms. In June, the Kenyan government announced plans to ban under-16s from social media platforms, with the restrictions expected to come into force in March 2027. WhatsApp is currently excluded from the ban because the government considers it a messaging service.
The minimum age to use WhatsApp is 13 in the UK, although it is higher in some countries. According to WhatsApp, the controls are being designed to support open conversations about how to use the platform between parents and teens. The settings will be "straightforward to set up" using a Pin set by a parent, which teens will need if they want to switch off the controls.
Social media analyst Matt Navarra noted that the move is an "obvious weakness" in WhatsApp's parental controls, as they are optional. He questioned whether enough families will actually use the controls, saying that Meta is trying to show regulators that it has a child safety system in place. The company said that all of the controls are being designed to support open conversations about how to use WhatsApp between parents and teens.
The changes are part of a broader effort by tech companies to provide more age-appropriate experiences for children. WhatsApp's new parental controls are a significant step towards enhancing safety and privacy for teenagers on the platform. The company has assured that the controls are optional and can be adjusted or switched off at any time, giving parents and teens more flexibility and control over their online interactions.
Key points
- WhatsApp introduces optional parental controls for teenagers to enhance safety and privacy.
- The controls allow parents to decide on privacy settings for their child's account.
- The move is part of a broader effort by tech companies to provide more age-appropriate experiences for children.
