WhatsApp introduces parental controls for teens

WhatsApp is introducing optional parental controls for teens, letting parents manage privacy settings, receive alerts about group activity, and choose how their children use Meta AI.

The tools, designed for parents and teens to set up together, will also cover access to Channels and Status features. WhatsApp says personal messages and calls will remain private and protected by end-to-end encryption.

READ MORE: It’s time to reserve your WhatsApp username

READ MORE: WhatsApp rolls out new safety tools to fight scams

A PIN to approve privacy changes

Parents can choose who can see their teen’s profile photo and who can add them to groups. Teens who want to relax those settings will need parental approval through a parent-set PIN.

Parents can also choose to receive notifications when their teen joins or leaves a group, or when a group grows significantly.

The announcement does not specify what level of growth will trigger an alert.

“As teens grow up, so does the way they communicate. Parents have told us they want to be there to guide them without reading over their shoulder,” the company said.

Controls extend to Meta AI and Channels

The tools will let parents choose how their teen uses Channels, whose Status updates they can see, and who can see their own updates.

Parents will also be able to select between the default 13+ Meta AI setting and a stricter “Limited Content” option.

WhatsApp has not detailed the specific content restrictions that will apply under the stricter setting.

The company said it would develop the controls progressively, drawing on feedback from families.

“This is just the start. We're building these controls step by step, based on what families tell us they need,” the company said.

Personal chats remain private

The controls are entirely optional. Parents can adjust them or switch them off at any time.

WhatsApp says the tools are intended to support conversations between parents and teens about using the service, without giving parents access to personal chats.

“Even with controls turned on, your teen's personal messages and calls stay private and protected by end-to-end encryption. No one outside of the chat, not even WhatsApp, can see or hear them,” the company said.

The announcement does not specify rollout markets or when the controls will become available to all eligible users.