WhatsApp Unveils Strict Parental Controls to Head Off Looming Age Laws
The new tools allow parents to customize rules about what their children see on the platform.
WhatsApp has announced a set of new parental controls on its platform, aimed at preventing teens from accessing content their parents may find inappropriate. These tools allow parents to control who can view a teen's profile photo, invite them to groups, and receive notifications about significant group activity or changes. Additionally, parents can limit how teens use WhatsApp channels, view status updates, and determine who can see their status.
These controls are optional and can be easily set up with a single PIN, and parents can adjust or turn them off at any time. The controls also extend to Meta AI, WhatsApp's built-in chatbot, offering different settings for users aged 13 and above, as well as a strict, limited-content option for younger children. Despite these controls, personal messages and calls remain private and inaccessible to parents.
WhatsApp's approach aims to address concerns over child protection without resorting to costly and unpopular age verification measures, which have faced challenges in various regions. While the company is implementing age verification for certain features, it is not enforcing a platform-wide lockdown. The debate surrounding age verification laws, such as the Kids Online Safety Act, highlights the tension between safeguarding children and protecting privacy rights.
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