WhatsApp is set to introduce a significant update aimed at alleviating parental concerns. The forthcoming feature will enable adults to implement specific controls on devices, preventing pre-teens from accessing certain functionalities or participating in group chats without authorization.
Moreover, parents or guardians will have the ability to determine who can reach the account, preventing unknown individuals from initiating contact. They can also review message requests from unfamiliar contacts and manage the account’s privacy settings.
Describing WhatsApp as a trusted platform for family communication due to its simplicity, privacy, and reliability, the company highlighted the introduction of new parent-managed accounts tailored for pre-teens. These accounts, configured by parents or guardians, restrict the WhatsApp experience for young users to messaging and calling activities.
To initiate the setup process, parents need to have both the family member’s phone and their own device nearby to link the accounts. Subsequently, the parent or guardian gains control over these accounts, exclusively accessing and adjusting privacy settings to customize their family’s usage.
Notably, all personal conversations are safeguarded by end-to-end encryption, ensuring privacy and protection from external access, including WhatsApp itself.
The update will be progressively released over the following months, with WhatsApp inviting feedback to enhance the platform’s safety and privacy for family interactions.