New WhatsApp Feature Gives Parents Greater Control Over Children’s Accounts

Messaging platform WhatsApp has introduced a new safety feature called Parent-Managed Accounts, designed to help parents monitor and control how children use the app. The feature is aimed primarily at users under the age of 13, allowing parents or guardians to manage privacy settings, messaging permissions, and account controls.

According to the company, the update is part of its broader effort to make the platform safer for younger users and give families better tools to guide children’s online communication.

With this feature, parents can decide who is allowed to message or call their child, review message requests from unknown contacts, and manage privacy settings directly from their own phone.

What Are Parent-Managed Accounts on WhatsApp?

The Parent-Managed Account feature allows parents or guardians to connect their own WhatsApp account with their child’s account. Once linked, the child’s account remains under parental supervision, giving guardians the ability to adjust certain settings and monitor activity.

Through this system, parents can:

• Control who can send messages or make calls to the child

• Manage privacy and safety settings

• Decide whether to accept message requests from unknown contacts

• Restrict participation in certain groups

This system aims to reduce risks such as online harassment, contact with strangers, and exposure to inappropriate communication.

Security Remains With End-to-End Encryption

WhatsApp has clarified that even with parental controls, end-to-end encryption will remain fully active for all conversations. This means that messages will continue to be accessible only to the sender and recipient.

Neither WhatsApp nor any third party can read or listen to private chats.

The company says the goal is to balance privacy protection with parental supervision, ensuring children remain safe while still maintaining secure communication.

Parent PIN Adds an Extra Layer of Control

To prevent children from changing safety settings themselves, WhatsApp requires a six-digit Parent PIN.

This PIN must be created during the setup process and will be needed whenever changes are made to the child’s account settings. Only parents or guardians with the PIN will be able to modify the controls.

The PIN system ensures that important privacy settings remain under adult supervision.

Gradual Rollout for Eligible Users

WhatsApp says the Parent-Managed Accounts feature will be rolled out gradually to users worldwide.

The feature will be available for accounts belonging to children below 13 years of age, or below the minimum age required in certain countries. In addition, the parent or guardian managing the account must be at least 18 years old.

This approach allows families to adopt the feature step-by-step while ensuring proper age verification and parental consent.

How to Set Up a Parent-Managed Account on WhatsApp

Parents can activate this feature by linking their child’s phone with their own WhatsApp account. The process involves a few simple steps.

Steps on the child’s phone:

1. Download WhatsApp from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

2. Open the app and tap Agree and Continue.

3. Go to More Options and select Create a Parent-Managed Account.

4. Enter and verify the child’s phone number.

5. Add the child’s date of birth to confirm age.

6. Tap Continue to begin linking the account with the parent’s phone.

How Parents Link Their Account

Once the initial setup is complete, the parent must connect their device to the child’s account.

Steps for parents:

1. Use your phone to scan the QR code displayed on the child’s phone.

2. Verify your identity as the parent or guardian.

3. Create a six-digit Parent PIN.

4. Tap Next, then Done to complete the linking process.

5. Enter the same PIN on the child’s phone to finalize setup.

After the setup is complete, the child’s WhatsApp profile name and photo can be added, and parental controls will remain active.

A Step Toward Safer Digital Communication

As children increasingly use messaging apps for communication, digital safety has become a major concern for families. With the introduction of Parent-Managed Accounts, WhatsApp aims to provide parents with tools to guide their children’s online interactions more responsibly.

The new feature allows parents to stay informed about their child’s communication environment while maintaining the privacy protections that the platform is known for.