WhatsApp Launches "Account Managed by Parents" Feature to Protect Children's Safety

Jakarta — WhatsApp, Meta’s instant messaging application, has officially launched a new feature called “Account Managed by Parents” to safeguard the digital security of children under 13 years of age.

The feature introduces new controls to restrict the WhatsApp experience of younger users to messaging and calling only.

“We are responding to clear feedback from parents that they want a more private, practical, and controlled way to communicate with their younger children and to guide their online experience,” WhatsApp stated regarding the new feature on Wednesday.

To utilise this feature, parents require a device purchased for their family member and their own device to link the accounts.

Additionally, parents can review message requests from unknown contacts and manage account privacy settings.

Parental oversight and settings are restricted by a parental PIN on the managed device. Only parents can access and modify privacy settings, ensuring they are able to customise their family’s experience.

All personal conversations remain private and protected with end-to-end encryption, meaning no one, not even WhatsApp, can view or listen to them.

“We are providing more features and insights for parents, particularly around groups,” WhatsApp stated.

The “Account Managed by Parents” feature will be available globally with the aim of providing protection for users from various age categories.

The feature rollout will occur in phases over the coming months.