WhatsApp Rolls Out Parent-Managed Accounts for Pre-Teens
Summary
WhatsApp is rolling out pre-teen accounts with parent controls over contacts and groups, activity alerts, and restricted features. Chats remain end-to-end encrypted; the company also announced warnings for potentially fraudulent device-linking requests.
Key points
- Parents can approve contacts and are the only ones who can add the child’s account to groups.
- Managed accounts are limited to messaging and calling; Meta AI, Channels, Status, and location sharing are unavailable.
- Chats and calls remain end-to-end encrypted, and parents cannot read messages or listen to calls.
- Setup requires both devices, phone-number verification, age confirmation, and QR-code linking.
- A parent-set six-digit PIN protects access to privacy settings and activity alerts; alerts can cover unknown contact requests and group changes.
- WhatsApp also announced warnings when behavioral signals suggest a device-linking request may be fraudulent.
Article Details
- Event Type
- WhatsApp rollout of parent-managed accounts for pre-teens, alongside new anti-scam warnings for potentially fraudulent device-linking requests.
- Impact
- Parents can approve contacts and group membership, set a 6-digit PIN, and receive activity alerts. Managed accounts are limited to messaging and calling, with Meta AI, Channels, Status, and location sharing unavailable. Messages and calls remain end-to-end encrypted, and parents cannot access their content.
Vendors
Products
Meta AIguardians control who can contact them and which groups they can join while restricting features like Meta AI, Channels, Status, and location sharing.WhatsAppWhatsApp is rolling out parent-managed accounts for pre-teens that let guardians control who can contact them and which groups they can join while restricting features like Meta AI, Channels, Status, and location