WhatsApp is introducing parental controls for teen accounts that let adults manage privacy, contact and group settings without giving them access to private chats or calls. The tools are designed for users aged 13 to 17, and WhatsApp says neither a parent nor the company can read messages, listen to calls or view conversation content.
The feature cannot be enabled secretly. Both the teen and parent must agree to link their accounts, while the parent must be at least 18. Setup begins on the teen’s phone, after which the parent scans a QR code and creates a six-digit PIN. The teen can still view the relevant settings, but changing protected options to a less restrictive setting requires parental approval.
Once linked, a parent can control who sees the teen’s account information, including the profile photo, and who can add the account to groups. WhatsApp can also send activity alerts when the teen adds a contact, creates or joins a group, or changes their name or profile photo. Parents may also be notified when a group involving the teen grows substantially.
The alerts reveal changes around an account rather than the contents of its conversations. WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption remains in place for messages and calls, drawing a boundary between supervision of account settings and surveillance of communications.
Meta AI and content controls
The controls also extend to Meta AI. Parents can choose the standard experience for users aged 13 and older or a Limited mode that adds restrictions to the subjects a teen can discuss with the AI assistant. Limited mode also disables Meta AI features that use Private Processing, reducing the range of AI functions available to the account.
- Set which Status updates the teen can see.
- Control who can see the teen’s own Status updates.
- Allow access to all Channels.
- Limit Channel access to parent-approved Channels.
- Block Channel access entirely.
WhatsApp says the controls are being released gradually, so they may not yet be available on every account. The company recommends updating WhatsApp on Android or iPhone to the latest version.
The system is separate from WhatsApp’s more restrictive parent-managed accounts for children under 13, which focus primarily on messaging and calling. The new controls target the next age group, offering expanded account oversight while leaving the core of teen conversations encrypted and inaccessible.
