WhatsApp is set to introduce a significant update aimed at providing relief to parents. This upcoming feature will empower adults to set specific controls on devices, preventing pre-teens from accessing certain functionalities or joining group chats without consent.
Furthermore, parents or guardians will have the authority to determine who can contact the account, thereby preventing strangers from initiating conversations. They will also have the ability to review message requests from unfamiliar contacts and manage the account’s privacy settings.
According to WhatsApp, the platform is trusted by families for its simplicity, privacy, and reliability. The company stated, “With insights from families and experts, we are introducing new parent-managed accounts that enable parents or guardians to create WhatsApp accounts for pre-teens, with added controls to restrict their usage to messaging and calling.”
To initiate this feature, parents need to link their family member’s phone with their own device. Once set up, the parent or guardian will have full control over these accounts. Only parents can access and modify privacy settings, ensuring they can customize their family’s WhatsApp experience.
All personal conversations are kept private and secure with end-to-end encryption, ensuring that even WhatsApp cannot access or intercept them. The update will be gradually rolled out over the next few months, with WhatsApp seeking feedback to enhance the platform as a safe and private means for families to connect.