WhatsApp launches new safety controls: What UAE parents need to know

In response to the UAE's ban on social media use for children under 15, WhatsApp has introduced new safety controls aimed at providing parents with greater oversight of their teenagers' online presence. However, these controls do not grant parents access to personal messages or calls, and instead focus on enabling parents and teenagers to build safer online habits together.

Parents can use a six-digit PIN to lock specific privacy settings, requiring parental approval if a teenager attempts to change restrictions such as profile picture visibility or joining groups. The controls also provide notifications about changes in online activity, such as joining or leaving groups, significant group growth, and new contact additions.

Additionally, WhatsApp offers artificial intelligence features, with parents able to choose between the default 13+ Meta AI experience or a stricter Limited Content mode that restricts sensitive topics and adds safeguards. Despite these new controls, privacy remains a key concern, with experts emphasizing the need to balance oversight with personal privacy, allowing teenagers to develop judgment, build trust, and learn digital responsibility.