WhatsApp launches new safety controls: What UAE parents need to know
As the UAE bans social media for children under 15, WhatsApp has introduced new features that give parents firmer control over their teenagers' online footprints. Parents will not be able to read the messages their teenagers send or receive. The new features are meant to help parents and teenagers build safer online habits together, offering oversight of potential risks without constant…
WhatsApp has introduced new safety controls for parents of teenagers in the UAE, following the country's ban on social media for children under 15. These features allow parents to set up a six-digit PIN to lock specific privacy settings on their teenager's account, such as who can view their profile picture, Last Seen status, and add them to groups.
Parents will be notified of changes in their teenager's online activity, such as joining or leaving a group, when a group grows significantly, or when a new contact is added. Additionally, parents can choose between the default 13+ Meta AI experience or a stricter Limited Content option that restricts sensitive topics and adds safeguards.
Although these controls do not grant parents access to personal messages or calls, they offer a balance between oversight and personal privacy, allowing parents to identify risks without constant monitoring.
Brief written by urgent.news from The National UAE's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 2 other outlets
- WhatsApp launches new safety controls: What UAE parents need to know thenationalnews.com
- Spain police warn parents over WhatsApp scam that uses their children’s real accounts euroweeklynews.com
