Meta has introduced parent-managed accounts on WhatsApp, allowing children under the age of 13 to use the messaging app more safely under supervision. These accounts include controls to limit contacts and restrict certain features. The rollout will begin gradually in the coming months.
Meta announced the introduction of parent-managed accounts on WhatsApp, aimed at enabling safer use for young people under 13. Parents or guardians can link their phone to the child's device by placing them next to each other, granting control over who can contact the child and which groups they can join.
The accounts are limited to messaging and calling, excluding features such as Channels, location sharing, and Meta AI integration. By default, only saved contacts can send messages to the managed account. Message requests from unknown contacts appear first to the parent, who must approve group joins or invites from strangers. These notifications ensure parental oversight, and the accounts are protected by a PIN, with privacy settings adjustable only by the managing adult from their device.
All conversations on these accounts benefit from WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption, maintaining privacy from external access. Meta did not specify a minimum age for these accounts but plans a gradual rollout over the coming months. Step-by-step setup instructions are available for users.
This move builds on Meta's recent efforts to enhance parental controls across its platforms. In September, the company launched teen accounts for users aged 13 to 15 on Facebook and Messenger, allowing parents to review requests and apply stricter privacy options. A year prior, under-16 accounts became mandatory on Instagram with similar safeguards. Earlier in 2026, Meta temporarily halted teen interactions with its AI chatbot characters after reports of inappropriate conversations with minors.
These developments reflect Meta's ongoing focus on child safety amid growing scrutiny of social media's impact on young users.
