US EditionWhatsApp reveals parent-controlled accounts for under 13s amid safety concerns
WhatsApp's new parent-managed accounts restrict under-13 users to messaging and calls, with parental controls and end-to-end encryption, rolling out gradually worldwide.
- On March 11, 2026, Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp announced parent-managed accounts for under-13s, restricting use to messaging and calling with parental consent.
- Responding to parent feedback, WhatsApp said the feature addresses parents and guardians wanting a tailored experience amid policy moves on underage social media access in countries including Denmark, Germany, Spain and the U.K.
- Parents will set up and link accounts using both devices and a QR code, and manage contacts, group approvals, and privacy with a six-digit PIN while chats remain end-to-end encrypted.
- The feature will be rolled out in select geographies over the coming months, and accounts stay linked until a child's 13th birthday, after which parents have the option to delay unlinking by 12 months.
- Experts and regulators observing safety and security trends note that WhatsApp's move could set a precedent given its more than 3 billion users, amid ongoing safety debates.
61 Articles
61 Articles
WhatsApp rolls out parent-controlled accounts for children under 13
New Delhi: Meta-owned WhatsApp has unveiled a new “parent-managed” account model, effectively opening the messaging platform to pre-teens (children under the age of 13) under strict guardian oversight. The move marks a strategic shift for the messaging app, which has historically maintained a minimum age requirement of 13 (or higher in some regions). Also Readhttps://www.siasat.com/rule-to-link-whatsapp-other-messaging-apps-to-sim-come-into-forc…
New accounts with WhatsApp parental control allow to limit the experience of young people while using the app
WhatsApp announced new parent-managed accounts that will allow them to configure the app for preteens, those under 13 years old. The new accounts were designed with input from families and experts and will have new controls to limit preteens' WhatsApp experience to messages and calls. First, parents will need the phone they purchased for their child and their own device, side by side, to link their accounts. After setting up the account, the p…
The update is a response provided by the Digital ECA, which determines that online platforms adopt, by default, high levels of protection for children and adolescents
derwesten.de
The popular messenger service Whatsapp goes new ways and will soon be available for children from 10 years of age.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
