Messaging platform WhatsApp has introduced parent managed accounts designed for children under the age of 13, allowing guardians to supervise how younger users access the service. The company said the new feature limits pre teens to basic messaging and calling functions while blocking adverts and several advanced features available on regular accounts.
Although WhatsApp is rated for users aged 13 and above on app stores, the company acknowledged that many younger children already use the application to communicate with parents and family members. The new system, it said, was developed after feedback from parents who wanted a safer and more controlled way for their children to stay connected through the platform.
Under the setup process, a parent or guardian must have both devices present, their own phone and the child’s phone, and link the accounts by scanning a QR code. Once connected, the parent controls key settings, including who the child can communicate with and which groups the account may join. Parents also receive notifications when the child adds, blocks or reports a contact, while additional alerts can be enabled for activities such as changes to profile details or new chat requests.
The company explained that several features will not be available to pre teen users. These include access to Meta AI tools, Channels and Status updates, while disappearing messages cannot be enabled in private chats. Despite these limitations, the platform said conversations will remain protected through end to end encryption, ensuring that messages cannot be viewed by anyone outside the chat, including the company itself.
WhatsApp added that extra safety measures will warn children when messages arrive from people outside their contact list. Images from unknown contacts will appear blurred by default, while calls from unfamiliar numbers can be silenced automatically. The feature, which is being introduced gradually in selected countries, forms part of wider child safety efforts by parent company Meta Platforms across its digital services including Instagram and Facebook.