What Has WhatsApp Announced?

WhatsApp has introduced a new type of account called a parent‑managed account, specifically designed for children under 13 who are just starting to use messaging on their own phones.

These accounts are set up and controlled by a parent or guardian and stay linked to the adult’s WhatsApp until at least the child’s 13th birthday, with the option to extend this link for up to 12 additional months.

The update is rolling out globally over the coming months and has been shaped with input from families and child‑safety experts, reflecting growing pressure on tech companies to offer safer experiences for younger users.

Key Features of WhatsApp Parent‑Managed Accounts

Parent‑managed accounts look like a normal WhatsApp profile to the child but operate with a very different set of rules in the background.

• • For children under 13 only: The feature is explicitly designed for pre‑teens under 13 who are not meant to have a standard WhatsApp account yet.

• • Linked to a parent’s account: The child’s account is created and linked from a parent or guardian’s existing WhatsApp, and that link must stay in place while the child is under 13.

• • Messaging and calls only: Under‑13 accounts are restricted to private messaging and voice calls, with no Status, Channels or other discovery‑style features.

• • No Meta AI or ads: Children on these accounts won’t see Meta’s AI chatbot, won’t be targeted with ads and won’t have access to experimental AI features that adults see.

• • End‑to‑end encryption preserved: Chats and calls on parent‑managed accounts remain end‑to‑end encrypted like other WhatsApp conversations.

• • No disappearing messages in 1:1 chats: Disappearing messages are disabled in one‑to‑one conversations, making it harder for risky content to vanish quickly.

• • Stricter privacy defaults: Contacts, group joins and message requests are locked down by default so that only trusted people can reach the child.

What Parents Can Control

Meta has built a detailed set of tools so parents can supervise how and with whom their child communicates on WhatsApp.

• • Contact supervision: Parents can supervise who the child is allowed to message and which groups they can join, with unknown contacts pushed into a locked “message requests” area.

• • Group safety: Parents see information about groups – including how many people are in them and who the admins are – before approving an invite.

• • Activity alerts: By default, parents receive alerts when their child adds, blocks or reports a contact, and they can enable extra alerts for events like new chat requests, profile changes, joining or leaving groups, or deleting chats.

• • PIN‑protected controls: All these settings and the message‑request folder are locked behind a six‑digit PIN that only the parent should know.

• • Blurred images and call controls: Images from unknown contacts are blurred by default, and children can silence calls from unknown numbers to reduce spam and harassment.

Unknown contacts and group invite links go into a separate folder that the child cannot open without the parent entering their PIN, giving adults the final say over whether a new conversation starts.

What Children Can and Cannot Do

Under‑13s will get a simpler, more locked‑down version of WhatsApp with a focus on private conversations rather than public or viral content.

• • They can: Send and receive messages, make voice calls, and stay in family or school‑related groups that a parent approves.

• • They cannot: Post to Status, follow or join Channels, access Meta AI, enable disappearing messages in 1:1 chats or freely accept group invites from anyone.

• • Context cards for unknown contacts: When a message arrives from someone not in their contacts, pre‑teens see an on‑screen card explaining who is trying to contact them, whether they share groups and which country the person is from, giving some context before they or their parent decide what to do.

How to Set Up a Parent‑Managed WhatsApp Account

The setup process is designed so that both devices are present and the adult remains clearly in charge.

1. 1. Update WhatsApp: Make sure both the parent and child phones are running the latest version of WhatsApp that supports parent‑managed accounts.
   2. Begin registration on the child’s phone: Install WhatsApp on your child’s device and start the normal sign‑up flow.
   3. Enter your child’s date of birth: When you state that the user is under 13, WhatsApp will offer the option to create a parent‑managed account instead of a standard one.
   4. Link with the parent’s account: You’ll be asked to link the child’s account with your own by scanning a QR code or following on‑screen instructions that require both phones to be present.
   5. Confirm you are an adult: WhatsApp may ask you to prove you are an adult, which can include an identity check such as taking a selfie during the process.
   6. Create a six‑digit PIN: Choose a PIN that only you know. This code will protect the settings, message‑request folder and group invites.
   7. Choose your alert settings: Decide which activity alerts you want to receive – new contacts, group activity, disappearing‑message changes and more.
   8. Review privacy and group settings: Before handing the phone back, double‑check who can add your child to groups, who can see their profile photo and whether unknown callers are silenced.

Once everything is configured, your child can begin using WhatsApp, but any risky contact attempts will be filtered and held behind your PIN until you approve them.

What Happens When Your Child Turns 13?

Parent‑managed accounts are not meant to last forever. As your child gets older, WhatsApp will eventually prompt them to transition to a regular account.

When that time comes, WhatsApp will notify both the child and the parent that the account can be converted, and Meta plans to offer an option for parents to delay this transition by up to 12 months if they feel their child is not ready for full independence yet.

This creates a gradual on‑ramp to digital independence rather than a hard cut‑off on a birthday, which many parents have been asking for.

Why WhatsApp Is Making This Change

Officially, WhatsApp is rated 13+ on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, but in reality many pre‑teens already use the app to stay in touch with family and friends.

Meta says it developed parent‑managed accounts after hearing from parents who had bought smartphones for pre‑teens and wanted a safer, more controlled way to use WhatsApp together.

The move comes as governments and regulators across Europe, including the UK, Denmark, Germany and Spain, consider or implement tougher age‑based rules for social media and messaging apps.

UK Perspective: Parental Consent and the Children’s Code

In the UK, companies are not allowed to process the personal data of under‑13s without parental consent, which is why these new accounts require an adult to create and manage them.

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said it expects Meta to demonstrate clearly how the under‑13 experience on WhatsApp complies with the Children’s Code and wider data‑protection obligations, and that it will continue to engage with the company as the feature launches.

This scrutiny follows high‑profile enforcement action against other platforms that failed to protect younger users, underlining how closely regulators will watch how Meta rolls out and monitors these new accounts.

Safety Benefits for Families

For many families, parent‑managed accounts offer a middle ground between banning WhatsApp completely and letting children use it with no supervision.

• • Controlled first step into messaging: Children can practise online communication in a more contained space before graduating to a full account.
  • Reduced exposure to strangers: Unknown contacts and group invites are held behind the parent PIN, making it much harder for random people to reach your child.

• • Fewer high‑risk features: By removing Status, Channels, Meta AI and disappearing messages, WhatsApp strips out tools that can make bullying and inappropriate sharing harder to spot.

• • Clear paper trail: With no disappearing messages in private chats, there is a more permanent record of conversations if you need to investigate a problem.

Combined, these changes aim to make WhatsApp feel more like a closed family messaging service for under‑13s, rather than a full social platform.

Important Limitations Parents Should Understand

While the new controls are a major step forward, they are not a magic shield, and parents still need to stay actively involved.

• • End‑to‑end encryption remains: WhatsApp cannot read your child’s messages, and there is no automated scanning of content for abuse – you only see what appears on your own device if you have access to it.

• • Alternative accounts are still possible: A determined child could, in theory, create a second account on a different device or SIM card that is not parent‑managed.
  • Notifications can be missed: Activity alerts are helpful but easy to overlook if your own phone is busy; it’s still wise to talk regularly with your child about who they are chatting to.
  • Rollout will be gradual: The feature is launching first in selected regions and may take time to reach all UK users, so you might not see the option straight away.

Practical Tips for UK Parents Using Parent‑Managed Accounts

To make the most of WhatsApp’s new tools, combine them with clear family rules and regular conversations.

• • Set expectations on day one: Explain that WhatsApp is a shared responsibility and that you will occasionally review who is messaging them and what groups they are in.
  • Keep the PIN private: Never share the settings PIN with your child or their friends. If you suspect they know it, change it immediately.

• • Review message requests weekly: Make a habit of checking the PIN‑locked message‑request folder together so you can discuss any unusual contact attempts.

• Use other safety tools too: Combine WhatsApp controls with device‑level tools like Apple Screen Time or Android Family Link for time limits and app‑install approvals.
• Know where to get help: If you’re worried about grooming, online abuse or threats, you can report through WhatsApp and contact organisations such as the NSPCC or CEOP in the UK.

WhatsApp vs Other Apps for Pre‑Teens

Parents often ask whether WhatsApp, Signal, iMessage or other apps are safest for their child’s first phone. Parent‑managed accounts significantly strengthen WhatsApp’s position for under‑13s.

Is WhatsApp Now Safe for Children Under 13?

WhatsApp’s new parent‑managed accounts are a major improvement for families who felt forced to choose between ignoring the age limit or banning the app entirely.

Used properly, they provide a safer, more supervised way for under‑13s to message, but they do not replace the need for open communication, clear boundaries and regular digital‑safety check‑ins at home.

For UK parents thinking about their child’s first phone or first messaging app, this update makes WhatsApp a much more realistic option – particularly when paired with device‑level controls and the wider advice available from trusted child‑safety organisations.

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