WhatsApp is launching parent-linked accounts for pre-teens

In a significant move aimed at enhancing safety for younger users, WhatsApp has unveiled a new feature that allows parents to supervise accounts for children under the age of 13. This initiative, launched on Wednesday, focuses on providing a controlled messaging and calling experience while ensuring that these accounts are not exposed to advertisements. Although WhatsApp typically rates its apps for users aged 13 and older on platforms like the App Store and Play Store, many pre-teens communicate with their parents through the app. The new parent-linked accounts have been developed in response to feedback from caregivers who expressed a desire for more oversight. To set up a pre-teen account, both the parent or guardian and the child's device must be present. The authentication process involves scanning a QR code. During this setup, parents can also configure notifications regarding their child’s account activities. By default, alerts will notify parents when their child adds or blocks contacts, reports someone, or makes changes to their profile. Additionally, parents have the option to enable alerts for other activities, such as joining or leaving groups and deleting messages or contacts. All settings are safeguarded by a six-digit PIN that parents can modify from their own devices. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, emphasized the importance of this feature in a recent Q&A, stating, "We’ve heard from parents about their wish to communicate with their pre-teens on WhatsApp. These accounts are designed to enhance parental control over messaging and settings." The managed accounts, however, do not have access to certain features like Meta AI, Channels, or Status updates. Moreover, the option for disappearing messages in one-on-one chats is disabled. To ensure privacy, all chats and calls remain end-to-end encrypted. When receiving messages from unknown contacts, pre-teens will see a context card that provides information about the sender, including shared group memberships and their country of origin. They also have the ability to mute calls from unknown numbers, and the app will automatically blur images from unfamiliar contacts. Requests for chats will be stored in a separate folder that requires the parent PIN for access, as will group invitation links. Before accepting any group requests, parents can review information such as the group's member count and the admin's identity. As children grow older, they will receive notifications indicating that their account can be transitioned to a standard account, with an option for parents to delay this change for up to a year. This feature rollout is commencing in select regions, with plans for gradual expansion over the coming months. This development aligns with Meta’s ongoing commitment to enhance safety measures across its social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook. Notably, this initiative comes at a time when several countries, including Denmark, Germany, Spain, and the U.K., are considering restrictions on social media access for younger users.