WhatsApp is rolling out a new type of account designed specifically for pre-teens, giving parents greater visibility and control over how younger users communicate on the platform.
The feature allows children under the age of 13 to use WhatsApp through a parent-linked account, focused strictly on messaging and calling. The accounts will not include ads and will exclude several features that exist on standard accounts.
The move comes after WhatsApp says it heard from parents who want a safe way to stay in touch with their children once they receive their first smartphone.
How parent-managed accounts work
Setting up a pre-teen account requires both the parent’s device and the child’s device. Parents authenticate the setup through a QR code, linking the two accounts.
Once the account is active, parents can monitor and manage certain activities. By default, they receive alerts when their child:
- Adds, blocks, or reports a contact
- Receives new chat requests
- Joins, creates, or leaves a group
- Changes their name or profile picture
- Deletes chats or contacts
Parents can also receive alerts if a group activates disappearing messages.
All parental settings are protected by a six-digit PIN, which can be managed directly from the parent’s phone.
Limited features for safety
Pre-teen accounts are intentionally restricted compared to standard WhatsApp profiles.
Users will not have access to Meta AI, Channels or Status updates. They also cannot enable disappearing messages in one-on-one chats.
Incoming messages from unknown contacts will trigger context cards, showing information like whether the sender shares groups with the user and which country they are messaging from. Images from unknown contacts will also appear blurred by default.
Chat requests from unknown users are placed in a separate folder, which can only be accessed using the parent’s PIN. Group invitations are similarly protected and show details such as the number of members and the group’s administrator before parents approve them.
Despite these controls, WhatsApp emphasized that all conversations remain end-to-end encrypted.
As pre-teen users grow older, WhatsApp will notify them that they are eligible to switch to a standard account. Parents will have the option to delay that transition for up to 12 additional months.
The feature is initially rolling out in select markets, with broader availability planned in the coming months.
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