{
  "id": 13612648,
  "title": "WhatsApp launches new safety controls: What UAE parents need to know",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/whatsapp-launches-new-safety-controls-what-uae-parents-need-to-know",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-11T02:00:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/10/11/whatsapp-parent-control-teen-uae-parents-react/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euro Weekly News",
        "title": "Spain police warn parents over WhatsApp scam that uses their children’s real accounts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/spain-police-warn-parents-over-whatsapp-scam-that-uses-their",
        "published": "2026-10-10T20:32:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "WhatsApp launches new safety controls: What UAE parents need to know",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/whatsapp-launches-new-safety-controls-what-uae-parents-need-to-know-13613835",
        "published": "2026-10-11T02:00:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}