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WhatsApp reveals parent-controlled accounts for under 13s amid safety concerns
WhatsApp's new parent-managed accounts restrict under-13 users to messaging and calls, with parental controls and end-to-end encryption, rolling out gradually worldwide.
- On March 11, 2026, Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp announced parent-managed accounts for under-13s, restricting use to messaging and calling with parental consent.
- Responding to parent feedback, WhatsApp said the feature addresses parents and guardians wanting a tailored experience amid policy moves on underage social media access in countries including Denmark, Germany, Spain and the U.K.
- Parents will set up and link accounts using both devices and a QR code, and manage contacts, group approvals, and privacy with a six-digit PIN while chats remain end-to-end encrypted.
- The feature will be rolled out in select geographies over the coming months, and accounts stay linked until a child's 13th birthday, after which parents have the option to delay unlinking by 12 months.
- Experts and regulators observing safety and security trends note that WhatsApp's move could set a precedent given its more than 3 billion users, amid ongoing safety debates.
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52 Articles
52 Articles
New accounts with WhatsApp parental control allow to limit the experience of young people while using the app
The update is a response provided by the Digital ECA, which determines that online platforms adopt, by default, high levels of protection for children and adolescents
·Brazil
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derwesten.de+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
The popular messenger service Whatsapp goes new ways and will soon be available for children from 10 years of age.
·Germany
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WhatsApp launches parent-managed accounts for pre-teens amid safety concerns
Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp said on Wednesday it would allow parents to create accounts for pre-teens, restricted to messaging and calling, amid rising global concerns about the impact of social media and chat apps on children.
·United Kingdom
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Total News Sources52
Leaning Left7Leaning Right9Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution41% Center
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources are Center
41% Center
L 26%
C 41%
R 33%
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