WhatsApp launches parental controls for teens: What parents can and cannot see

WhatsApp is introducing new parental controls for teenagers, giving parents more say over privacy settings, groups, Status, Channels and Meta AI while keeping their teen’s private messages and calls off-limits.

The optional controls are designed to allow parents and teens to set boundaries together without giving parents access to personal conversations.

Even when parental controls are activated, parents cannot read their teen’s WhatsApp messages or listen to their calls.

Personal messages and calls remain protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning no one outside the chat, including WhatsApp, can see or hear them.

What can parents control on WhatsApp?

Parents will be able to choose privacy settings for their teenager, including who can see their profile photo and who can add them to groups.

If the teen wants to relax one of those settings, they will need parental approval using a PIN set by the parent.

Parents can also receive notifications when their teen:

• Joins a WhatsApp group.
• Leaves a group.
• Is part of a group that grows meaningfully in size.

The controls extend to other parts of WhatsApp.

Parents will be able to choose how their teen uses Channels, whose Status updates they can see and who is allowed to see their Status updates.

Parents get control over teens’ Meta AI settings

WhatsApp’s new controls also cover how teenagers interact with Meta AI.

Parents can choose between the default 13+ setting and a stricter “Limited Content” option.

This gives families another level of control over the experience available to teenagers on the platform.

Can parents read their teen’s WhatsApp messages?

No.

The new parental controls do not give parents access to their teen’s personal messages or calls.

WhatsApp said the tools are intended to help parents guide teenagers “without reading over their shoulder”.

Even with the controls switched on, messages and calls remain private and protected by end-to-end encryption.

Are WhatsApp parental controls compulsory?

No. The controls are entirely optional.

Parents can decide how much support their teenager needs and can adjust the controls or switch them off.

The system uses a single PIN alongside alerts designed to keep parents informed about relevant activity.

WhatsApp said the tools are being developed step by step based on what families say they need, with the aim of encouraging conversations between parents and teenagers about how they use the platform.

More information on the new controls is available from the WhatsApp Help Center.

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