WhatsApp introduces new optional parental controls for teenagers
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has rolled out optional parental control tools for teen accounts, while keeping messages and calls protected by end-to-end encryption.
What's changing
Meta-owned WhatsApp has introduced a new set of parental control tools for teenage accounts. The tools let parents receive notifications when their child joins or leaves a group, and set privacy options such as who can see a teen's profile photo and who can add them to groups. Parents can also manage how their teen uses Channels — a feature used by organisations and public figures to broadcast content — and choose the Meta AI setting for their child's account, either the default 13+ version or a stricter "Limited Content" option.
As reported by Deccan Herald, the new tools are aimed in particular at protecting digitally confident Gen Z and Gen Alpha teenagers who, despite being comfortable with technology, often lack awareness of cyber threats such as financial scams and cyberbullying.
Optional, PIN-protected controls
The settings can be switched on or off at any time and are managed through a PIN set by the parent; teens need that same PIN to turn the controls off. WhatsApp has stressed that personal chats and calls remain private and protected by end-to-end encryption — parents are not given access to the content of messages their teen sends or receives.
Context: pressure on tech firms
The update comes as governments and regulators increase pressure on technology companies to better protect young users. According to the BBC, the UK government announced in June plans to ban under-16s from social media platforms starting March 2027, using "highly effective" age-verification measures. WhatsApp is currently excluded from that ban because the government classifies it as a messaging service rather than a social media platform. The minimum age to use WhatsApp in the UK is 13, though it is higher in some other countries.
Criticism
The BBC quotes social media analyst Matt Navarra, who called the optional nature of the controls an "obvious weakness." He said the move was "fairly convenient" for Meta, since it reduces the company's reliance on age verification by shifting some responsibility onto parents and teenagers. According to Navarra, the key unanswered question is whether enough families will actually use the tools. WhatsApp itself says the controls are meant to support open conversations between parents and teens while keeping personal messages private.
