WhatsApp Introduces Optional Parental Controls for Teenagers

WhatsApp, the messaging app owned by Meta Platforms, has introduced new optional parental controls for teenage users. The move comes as technology companies face increasing pressure to provide more age-appropriate experiences for children.

The new tools will allow parents to receive notifications when their child joins or leaves a group. Parents can also manage their child's privacy settings, such as who can see their profile photo and who can add them to groups. The app clarified that parents will not have access to their teen's messages or calls, which will remain end-to-end encrypted.

Social media analyst Matt Navarra described the optional nature of the controls as an "obvious weakness." He suggested that Meta is aiming to reduce its reliance on age verification by placing some responsibility on parents and teens. "Meta is trying to show regulators we have a child safety system, we have parental controls and we're rolling it out across our platforms," Navarra stated.

Parents can set up a PIN-protected setting for their children, which teens will need if they wish to switch off the controls. The tools also cover how teenagers interact with Channels and Meta's AI assistant. These updates come amid mounting pressure from regulators and governments to better protect children on online platforms.

WhatsApp has a minimum age requirement of 13 in the UK, though it is higher in some countries. The company stated that these controls are designed to support open conversations between parents and teens about WhatsApp usage while keeping personal messages private.