Messaging platform WhatsApp is making a major change aimed at strengthening the safety of minors online. The company has begun gradually rolling out a new type of parent-managed accountdesigned specifically for pre-teens. The new feature gives parents increased control over who can communicate with their children, as well as which groups they can join within the app.
This move is part of Meta Platforms to create safer digital environments for minors, at a time when social networking platforms are at the center of increasing pressure from governments and child protection organizations.
WhatsApp: How the new accounts with parental controls work
The new managed accounts are designed with limited functionality compared to a regular account on the app. Children can use WhatsApp exclusively for sending messages and making calls, without access to additional features of the platform.
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Specifically, these accounts do not include access to features such as Meta AI, Channels, Status, or location sharing. In this way, the app significantly limits children's exposure to public content and interactions that could pose risks.
At the same time, WhatsApp maintains the same privacy philosophy that characterizes the service. All conversations remain protected by end-to-end encryption, which means that neither the company itself nor parents can see the content of messages or listen to the child's calls.
The account creation process
Creating an account for minor users requires the participation of both the child and the parent. The process is designed to ensure that the account is created with the consent and active participation of the guardian.
The parent must first register and verify the child's phone number, while also confirming age . The two devices are then connected via a QR code that is scanned by the child's phone.
Additionally, the parent can create a six-digit PIN code. This code acts as a central management tool, as only the parent can use it to change critical settings, such as communication requests, privacy options, and activity notifications.
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Contact control and protection from unknown users
One of the key features of the new accounts is strict contact control. By default, children can only exchange messages with people already stored in their device's contacts.
Additionally, only the parent has the ability to add the child's account to group chats. This significantly limits the risk of participating in unknown or potentially dangerous groups.
In cases where an unknown contact tries to contact the child, WhatsApp displays a special information card. This card shows whether the sender shares common groups with the child, as well as the country from which the communication appears to originate.
Activity notifications for parents
Parents also receive notifications about important activities related to their child's account. For example, they are notified when their child receives a chat request from an unknown user, when a new contact is added, or when a group their child is a member of gains new members.
Notifications can be customized, allowing parents to choose which events they consider most important to monitor. They can even be notified when their child leaves a group chat.
Transition to a full account at age 13
When the child reaches the age of 13, they have the option to convert their account to a regular WhatsApp account. From that point on, they will have full access to all the app's features without parental controls.
This approach follows a gradual logic of introducing children to digital platforms, allowing greater autonomy as they grow older.
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A broader safety strategy for minors
The new feature is not an isolated initiative. In 2025, Meta had already introduced special accounts for teenagers under 16 on the Facebook and Messenger, while similar measures had been implemented earlier on Instagram.
Alongside the new accounts for children, the company also announced new fraud protection technologies for WhatsApp. These mechanisms can detect suspicious behavior patterns and warn users when there is a possibility that a device connection request is fraudulent.
With these new changes, WhatsApp is attempting to strike a balance between protecting privacy and the need for greater security for younger users online.
Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com
