Outlook Business Desk
WhatsApp has begun introducing parent-managed accounts for pre-teens, allowing parents or guardians to monitor how younger users use the platform. The feature still enables messaging and calling while giving families stronger privacy settings and safety controls.
WhatsApp said parent-managed accounts will apply to users under 13 years old or below the minimum age required to use WhatsApp in their country. A parent or guardian must create the account and supervise how the child uses it.
To create a supervised account, the parent or guardian must be at least 18 years old and use the latest version of WhatsApp on an Android phone or iPhone. The parent’s account will link directly with the child’s account.
In some regions, app stores run by Apple or Google may share a child’s age range with WhatsApp to comply with local legal requirements. Parents can review device settings or visit the help centres of Apple or Google if the shared information appears incorrect.
The parent-managed system gives guardians tools to control how children interact on WhatsApp. Parents can choose who can contact the child, decide which groups they may join and review message requests from unknown contacts before any conversation starts.
Parents can also manage privacy settings directly through the linked account. WhatsApp restricts access to these controls on the child’s phone using a parent PIN, ensuring only the guardian can change important privacy or safety settings.
WhatsApp confirmed that chats on parent-managed accounts will continue to use end-to-end encryption. This means messages and calls remain private and WhatsApp itself cannot read messages or listen to conversations on the platform.
To create the account, parents must first download WhatsApp on the child’s phone and select Create a parent-managed account. They then verify the child’s number and birthday, link their own phone by scanning a QR code and create a six-digit parent PIN.
WhatsApp said it will roll out the parent-managed account feature gradually over the coming months. The company plans to expand availability step by step while collecting feedback from families and users to improve the system.