WhatsApp introduces optional parental controls for teenagers

In response to increasing pressure to provide more child-friendly features, WhatsApp has rolled out new parental controls for teenagers. The social messaging app has introduced various options for parents, such as receiving notifications when their child joins or leaves a group, and setting privacy settings on their account. However, parents will not be able to view the messages their teen sends and receives, as they remain private and protected by end-to-end encryption.

The controls are optional, which some social media analysts view as a weaker move for Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp. This change aims to show regulators that the company has a child safety system and parental controls in place. The minimum age to use WhatsApp is 13 in the UK, though it is higher in some countries. Parents can easily set up and adjust these controls using a PIN that their teenager can also use to disable them if desired.

The new privacy features include selecting who can view a child's profile picture, who can add them to groups, and choosing how they use Channels, Meta AI's built-in AI assistant, with a stricter "Limited Content" option. The company states that these controls are designed to promote open conversations between parents and teens about responsible WhatsApp usage, while still preserving personal privacy.

The move comes amidst growing calls from governments and regulators worldwide for tech companies to improve their child protection measures.