WhatsApp is set to introduce a significant update aimed at alleviating parental concerns. The impending change will empower adults to implement specific controls on devices, preventing pre-teens from accessing certain features or participating in group chats without authorization.
Parents or guardians will have the ability to determine who can contact the account, thereby preventing unknown individuals from initiating conversations. Moreover, parents can monitor message requests from unfamiliar contacts and manage the account’s privacy settings.
“WhatsApp is the preferred communication platform for families due to its simplicity, privacy, and reliability,” stated WhatsApp.
“In collaboration with families and experts, we are introducing new parent-managed accounts that enable parents or guardians to configure WhatsApp for pre-teens, offering controls to restrict their WhatsApp usage to messaging and calling.”
To initiate this feature, parents need to have their family member’s phone and their own device to link the accounts. Once established, these accounts will be under the control of the parent or guardian.
Only parents will have access to modify privacy settings, ensuring they have the authority to customize their family’s digital interaction. All personal conversations will remain confidential and secure with end-to-end encryption, guaranteeing privacy from external parties, including WhatsApp.
WhatsApp has announced that the update will be gradually implemented over the upcoming months.
“As we progressively introduce parent-managed accounts in the following months, we eagerly anticipate your feedback to further enhance WhatsApp as the most secure and private platform for family connections.”