WhatsApp adds parent-managed privacy settings for teenage accounts
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
WhatsApp is introducing optional parental controls for teenagers, amid growing pressure on technology firms to make their services safer for children. The tools let parents receive alerts when a teen joins or leaves a group and set some account privacy options, but an analyst questioned whether enough families will use them.
A parent-set PIN is required to switch off the controls, which parents can adjust at any time. They can choose who sees a teen’s profile photo or adds them to groups, manage their use of Channels, and select a stricter setting for Meta AI; messages and calls remain private and end-to-end encrypted. WhatsApp’s minimum age is 13 in the UK, and it is currently excluded from the government’s planned restrictions on social media use by under-16s, expected to take effect in March 2027.
- WhatsApp adds optional parental controls for teenagers.
- Parents can manage some privacy settings, but cannot read messages.
- WhatsApp is currently excluded from the UK’s planned under-16 social media restrictions.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Optional parental controls could give families practical ways to reduce unwanted contact and help parents guide younger teenagers online, while preserving private messages and calls. The PIN and ability to tailor settings let families choose safeguards that suit the teenager’s age and circumstances, and the tools may help demonstrate that platforms are taking child safety seriously.
The case against
Even limited controls may feel intrusive to teenagers and could weaken their independence or trust within the family, especially if parents monitor group activity. Because the tools are optional and can be switched off, their reach may be limited; they may also offer reassurance without addressing broader risks on the service or replacing clear, enforceable protections for children.
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Originally published by BBC Technology as “WhatsApp introduces optional parental controls for teenagers”.