WhatsApp has unveiled a new feature aimed at enhancing communication for users under 13 years old by launching parent-supervised accounts. This initiative, announced on Wednesday, allows pre-teens to engage in messaging and calling, while ensuring they are not exposed to advertisements. Although WhatsApp typically targets users aged 13 and up, many younger individuals use the platform to stay in touch with their parents. This new feature comes as a response to feedback from parents seeking more control over their children's online interactions.
To set up a pre-teen account, parents must authenticate the process using both their device and that of their child via a QR code. During the setup, parents can establish alerts for various activities associated with the managed account. For instance, they will receive notifications if their child adds, blocks, or reports a contact.
Additionally, parents can activate optional alerts for specific actions, including changes to the child's name or profile picture, new chat requests, and group activities. All settings are secured with a six-digit PIN that parents can configure and modify from their own devices.
Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, stated, "We've heard from parents who have provided mobile phones for their pre-teens that they want to message them on WhatsApp. Parent-managed accounts are specifically designed to give additional control over settings and communications for this group."
Notably, these managed accounts will not have access to features such as Meta AI, Channels, or Status updates. However, all communications, including chats and calls, remain end-to-end encrypted to ensure privacy. Pre-teens will also receive context cards for messages from unknown contacts, indicating any mutual group memberships and the sender's country, while having the ability to mute calls from unfamiliar numbers. Furthermore, images from unknown contacts will be blurred by default.
All chat requests will be organized in a dedicated folder that is secured by the parent PIN, alongside group invitation links. Parents will also be provided with essential group details, such as member count and admin information, prior to accepting any requests.
As pre-teens mature, they will be notified about the option to transition to a standard account, with plans for parents to delay this change by up to 12 months. The rollout of this feature will begin in select regions and will expand gradually over the coming months.
This initiative aligns with Meta's ongoing commitment to enhance safety measures for younger users across its platforms, reflecting a broader trend towards increased parental control in digital communication.