If your child has been asking to use WhatsApp, a new feature coming in the next few months may ease the concerns about the safety of the app. WhatsApp introduces parent-managed accounts for kids under 13. The feature lets younger users stay in touch with family and friends while parents keep control over the account’s privacy and communication settings.
How Parent-managed WhatsApp Accounts Work
With this feature, a parent or guardian can create and supervise the account for a kids under 13. Only adults aged 18 or older can manage the setup. Here’s what parents can manage:
- decide who is allowed to message or call the child
- approve or limit participation in group chats
- review message requests from unknown contacts
- adjust privacy settings on the account
- protect settings with a parent PIN
To prevent children or others from changing the child’s privacy or communication settings, WhatsApp adds a six-digit parent PIN.
How to Set up a Parent-managed WhatsApp Account
- install the latest version of WhatsApp on the child’s phone and choose “Create a parent-managed account”
- register the child’s phone number and enter their birth date
- scan the QR code on the child’s device using the parent’s phone
- confirm adult status and create the parent PIN
- enter the PIN on the child’s phone to finish linking the accounts
After that, the child can add a name and profile photo and begin using the account within the limits set by the parent.
The company notes that personal messages remain protected by end-to-end encryption. That means conversations stay private and cannot be viewed by the platform or outside parties.
Many tech companies are now introducing new tools aimed at protecting younger users online. One recent example is age verification that’s now mandatory for Roblox chat, which shows how platforms are trying to limit unwanted interactions with strangers.
You might also want to take a look at the key takeaways from Child Digital Safety Law in UAE, which requires all platforms accessible in the country to follow strict privacy and safety rules aimed at protecting children from online risks.
As a parent, you may find it useful to check this guide, which shares practical tips on how to follow the new law and help protect children’s safety in the digital world.
