WhatsApp has introduced a new category of parent-supervised accounts designed for users under the age of 13, in what the company describes as one of its most significant safety updates.
The feature limits younger users to messaging and voice calls only, with no advertising served to pre-teen accounts. Although WhatsApp is officially rated for users aged 13 and above on major app stores, the company acknowledged that many parents already allow younger children to use the platform to stay in touch with family and friends. The new system is intended to provide a more controlled and secure experience based on parental feedback.
Parent-driven setup process
To create a supervised account, a parent or legal guardian must have access to both their own device and the child’s device. The setup requires authentication through a QR code, allowing the parent to link and manage the child’s account.
During the onboarding process, parents can configure activity alerts. By default, they are notified when a child adds a new contact, blocks a contact, or reports a contact.
Optional alerts can also be enabled to notify parents of additional account activity, including changes to a profile name or photo, new chat requests, joining, creating, or leaving a group, a group enabling disappearing messages, and deleting a chat or contact.
All supervision settings are secured with a six-digit parent-controlled PIN, which can be updated at any time from the parent’s device.
Limited features for younger users
WhatsApp said supervised accounts will not have access to several features available to standard users. These include Meta AI, channels, status updates and disappearing messages in one-to-one chats.
Despite these restrictions, the company emphasised that all messages and calls will remain end-to-end encrypted, ensuring privacy within the parent-approved framework.
Protection from unknown contacts
Additional safeguards have been introduced when pre-teen users receive message requests from people outside their contact list. WhatsApp will display a context card with extra information about the sender, including whether the person shares any groups with the user and the sender’s country, alongside safety reminders and options to block or silence the contact.
Calls from unknown numbers can be muted by default, while images from unknown contacts are automatically blurred to protect younger users.
Stronger parental controls
All message request approvals for supervised accounts are stored in a secure folder protected by the parent’s PIN. Group invitations are also locked behind the PIN to prevent unauthorised access.
Before approving a group invitation, parents will be able to see details about the group, including the number of participants, the group administrator or creator, and any shared connections.
Transition to a standard account
When a supervised user reaches an older age bracket, WhatsApp will notify them that they are eligible to move to a standard account. The company said it plans to introduce an option that allows parents to delay the transition by up to 12 months, providing families with greater flexibility.
Gradual rollout amid growing online safety concerns
The new supervised accounts will initially roll out in select regions, with broader availability planned in the coming months.
The move comes as parent companies and technology firms introduce stronger safety measures for younger users. Meta has previously launched several teen-safety tools across Instagram and Facebook. While WhatsApp is not classified as a traditional social network, it is used by more than three billion people worldwide, including many children.
The introduction of supervised accounts also reflects a wider regulatory push for stronger age-based protections online, as countries such as Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom consider stricter rules for social media and digital communication platforms.
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