WhatsApp is set to introduce a significant update aimed at providing reassurance to parents. This forthcoming change will empower adults to implement specific controls on devices, preventing pre-teens from accessing certain features or participating in group chats without authorization.

Moreover, parents or guardians will have the ability to dictate who can interact with the account, ensuring that strangers cannot initiate conversations unexpectedly. They will also be able to review message requests from unfamiliar contacts and manage the account’s privacy settings.

“WhatsApp is the preferred communication platform for families due to its simplicity, privacy, and reliability,” stated WhatsApp. “In collaboration with families and experts, we are introducing new parent-managed accounts that enable parents or guardians to set up WhatsApp for pre-teens, complete with enhanced controls to restrict their usage to messaging and calling.”

So, how does this system operate? WhatsApp explains that parents will need both the phone they provided to their family member and their own device to link the accounts. Once configured, these accounts will be under the control of the parent or guardian exclusively.

Only parents can access and modify privacy settings, empowering them to customize their family’s interaction 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’s safety and privacy features for families.