WhatsApp introduces new strict parental control measures

WhatsApp is gradually rolling out new parental controls for teenagers, allowing parents to manage certain privacy settings, receive alerts about group activity, and limit access to Channels and Meta AI. The features are optional and can be configured together with the teenager, while the parent’s and child’s accounts must be connected.

Personal messages and calls remain protected by end-to-end encryption. Parents cannot read or listen to them, and WhatsApp has no access to their content. However, they may receive notifications when the teenager joins or leaves a group, or when a group they belong to grows significantly.

The new feature allows control over settings such as profile photo visibility, the ability to be added to groups, status updates, and contacts. Changing a setting to a less restrictive option may require the parent’s approval via a PIN code.

Regarding Channels, parents can allow access to all of them, only those approved, or block their viewing. They can also decide whether the teenager may create their own Channels. For Meta AI, a standard experience is available for users over 13, or a “Limited content” option.

The tools are being implemented gradually and can be adjusted or disabled at any time. The minimum age for using WhatsApp remains 13, with possible differences depending on the legislation of each country.

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