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Meta has <\/a> that it\u2019s introducing parent-managed accounts on WhatsApp. Designed to allow young people under the age of 13 to use the messaging platform more safely, these accounts feature new controls that enable a parent or guardian to restrict who can send them messages. Parent-managed accounts can also only be used for messaging and calling, so additional features like Channels, location sharing and Meta AI integration aren\u2019t included.<\/p>\n To set up an account, you\u2019ll need to put your phone next to the pre-teen\u2019s device to link the two accounts. Once that\u2019s done, the person managing the kids\u2019 account can decide who\u2019s able to contact them and which groups they\u2019re able to join. Step-by-step instructions on how to activate the new accounts can be found <\/a><\/p>\n They\u2019ll also see message requests from unknown contacts first and can adjust privacy settings from the managed device. Parent-managed accounts are PIN-protected and only the parent or guardian can make changes to privacy settings.<\/p>\n Like all WhatsApp conversations, end-to-end encryption means nobody else can see messages exchanged on parent-managed accounts. By default, only saved contacts can message a managed account, and a child won\u2019t be able to join a group or view group invites from strangers before they\u2019re separately approved by the owner of the parent account. These requests will appear as notifications to the parent.<\/p>\n WhatsApp doesn\u2019t specify a minimum age suitable for a parent-messaged account, but says it\u2019ll roll the new features out gradually in the coming months.<\/p>\n Meta has spent the last few years ramping up its parental controls features across its various platforms. In September it introduced <\/a> \u2014 aimed at teens between the age of 13 and 15 \u2014 for Facebook and Messenger. A year earlier, Under-16 <\/a> became a requirement on Instagram. Like the new parent-managed accounts on WhatsApp, these allow parents to vet requests and enable stricter privacy settings.<\/p>\n At the start of 2026, Meta put a temporary <\/a> on allowing teens to interact with its AI chatbot characters, following <\/a> that some of these bots had engaged in sexual conversations and other concerning interactions with minors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n