WhatsApp introduces parent-managed accounts for children under 13

New Delhi: WhatsApp has announced a new parent-managed account model that will allow children under the age of 13 to use the messaging platform under strict parental supervision.

The feature marks a significant shift for the messaging service owned by Meta Platforms, which had previously maintained a minimum age requirement of 13 years or older in most regions.

Announcing the change in a blog post, WhatsApp said the new system was designed with safeguards to ensure parental oversight while maintaining user privacy.

“With input from families and experts, we're rolling out new parent-managed accounts that allow parents or guardians to set up WhatsApp for pre-teens, with new controls to limit their WhatsApp experience to messaging and calling,” WhatsApp said.

Under the new model, parents will be able to manage their child’s contact list and privacy settings. However, the platform said the content of messages will remain protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning even parents will not be able to read chats.

WhatsApp said the parental controls will be secured through a six-digit parent PIN on the managed device, which will be required to access or modify privacy settings.

“This PIN is required to access and make changes to your child’s privacy settings and should not be shared with your child,” the company said.

The feature is being rolled out in phases globally.

To set up a parent-managed account, parents need to download WhatsApp on the child’s device from either the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and select the option to create a parent-managed account. The process requires registering the child’s phone number, confirming their age, and linking the account to a parent’s phone by scanning a QR code.

After linking the accounts and creating a parent PIN, the setup is completed on the child’s device, allowing the child to add their name and profile photo.