Meta Platforms Launches Parent-Managed WhatsApp Accounts for Children Under 13

The parent company of WhatsApp, Meta Platforms, has announced a new feature that allows children under the age of 13 to use the messaging platform through accounts managed by their parents or guardians.

Previously, WhatsApp required users to be at least 13 years old to create an account. However, Meta has now introduced a supervised account system that enables younger users to access the service while remaining under direct parental control.

Under this new arrangement, parents must create and manage the child’s account. Guardians will have the ability to control who their children can communicate with by managing the contact list. This ensures that children can only exchange messages with approved contacts.

To strengthen safety, parents will also have access to privacy settings that prevent children from receiving messages from unknown individuals or joining random group chats. A secure parent PIN will protect these settings, preventing children from altering them without permission.

Despite these controls, parents will not be able to view the content of their children’s private messages. WhatsApp messages are protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning that only the sender and the receiver can read the messages, not even the platform itself.

The device used by the child will be connected to the parent’s primary account, allowing guardians to manage the child’s usage more effectively. Meta said the feature was developed after observing that many children were already using the app unofficially, often without parental knowledge.

According to the company, the parent-managed account system will begin rolling out globally in the coming weeks, offering families a safer way for younger users to access the messaging platform.