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WhatsApp Rolls Out Parent-Managed Accounts for Kids
11 Mar
Summary
- Parents can restrict who messages children under 13.
- Managed accounts lack features like Channels and Meta AI.
- Parental controls were expanded across Meta platforms.
WhatsApp has introduced parent-managed accounts, enabling stricter safety controls for users under 13. These accounts allow parents or guardians to designate who can message their children and approve group invitations. Features such as Channels, location sharing, and Meta AI are excluded from these managed accounts.
Setting up a parent-managed account involves linking the parent's phone to the child's device. Parents can then manage contact permissions and review message requests from unknown contacts. These accounts are PIN-protected to ensure privacy settings can only be altered by the guardian. End-to-end encryption remains active for all conversations.
This initiative is part of Meta's wider strategy to enhance parental oversight on its services. Previously, similar controls were implemented for Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram, aiming to protect younger users across the Meta ecosystem. This comes after Meta temporarily restricted teen interaction with AI chatbots in early 2026 due to concerning conversations.
