WhatsApp rolls out optional parental controls for teens amid scrutiny over child safety

WhatsApp has launched new optional parental controls that let parents manage privacy settings, group activity, Channels, Status, and Meta AI access for teenagers. The rollout comes as parent company Meta faces intense global scrutiny over the addictive design of its platforms and the harm caused to young users.

Key Controls

Parents can now set privacy limits on who views a teen's profile picture or adds them to group chats. If a teen wants to relax any privacy setting, they need approval from a parent using a set PIN. Parents also receive alerts when a teen joins or leaves a group, or when a group sees a sudden jump in members. Additional tools let parents manage access to Channels, control whose Status updates a teen can view, and select the Meta AI experience between the default 13-plus mode and a restricted content option.

Privacy And Setup

The entire setup uses a single PIN, and families can choose how much supervision they want or disable the tools entirely at any time. WhatsApp stressed that personal messages and calls stay protected by end-to-end encryption even when parental supervision is turned on. The company stated that these tools are only a start and more updates will follow based on family feedback.

Context

Tech companies face mounting pressure from governments and legal bodies worldwide to protect young users online. Meta has faced lawsuits and lawmaker questions regarding child safety features on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, prompting recent rollouts of pre-teen accounts and content restrictions.