Key facts
- WhatsApp is introducing new parental controls for teen accounts.
- Parents can limit teen interactions on channels, Status visibility, and group additions.
- Controls are PIN-protected, requiring parental approval for changes.
- Parents can choose between a default 13+ setting or a stricter 'Limited Content' option for Meta AI.
- Messages and calls remain end-to-end encrypted.
- Meta agreed to a $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states over child safety concerns.
WhatsApp is rolling out new parental controls for teenage users, aiming to enhance child safety on the messaging platform amid increasing regulatory pressure on tech companies. The optional features allow parents to manage their teens' interactions and privacy settings.
Guardians can set PIN-protected controls to limit who their teenagers can interact with, including selecting who can see their profile photo and who can add them to groups. Parents will also be notified when a teen joins or leaves a group, or when a group reaches specific member counts of 30, 100, or 250.
For Meta AI, the app's built-in assistant, parents can choose between a default 13+ setting or a stricter 'Limited Content' option that disables features like incognito chat and message summaries. WhatsApp emphasized that these new controls do not affect the app's end-to-end encryption for messages and calls.
The move comes as Meta faces heightened scrutiny over the impact of its platforms on children. In August, the company agreed to a $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states to resolve a lawsuit concerning child safety. Social media analyst Matt Navarra described the optional nature of the controls as a "fairly convenient" move for Meta, potentially reducing its reliance on age verification.