WhatsApp is introducing new parental controls that give parents greater control over how teenagers use the messaging platform whilst avoiding privacy invasion concerns.
The new optional tools allow parents to manage several privacy settings on a teenager’s account, including who can view their profile picture, who can add them to groups and how they use WhatsApp’s Channels and Status features. Parents can also choose which Status updates their teenager can view and who can see the teenager’s own updates.
Parents can also receive notifications when their teenager joins or leaves a group. They can be alerted when a group reaches 30, 100 or 250 members, giving them visibility into changes involving groups their teenager participates in without showing them the content of those conversations.
The controls are protected by a parent-set PIN. If a teenager wants to change restrictions established by a parent, approval through the PIN is required. Parents can also disable the controls completely.
WhatsApp is also giving parents more control over their teenagers’ interactions with Meta AI. Parents can choose the standard 13-plus content setting or activate a stricter “Limited Content” option, which disables certain private-processing features such as incognito chats and message summaries.
Despite the additional controls, WhatsApp said parents will not be able to read their teenagers’ messages or listen to their calls. Communications remain protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning WhatsApp itself cannot access the contents of private chats and calls.
The new features build on WhatsApp’s broader effort to introduce age-specific protections. In March, the company launched parent-managed accounts for pre-teens, allowing parents to determine who can contact a child and which groups the account can join. Those accounts also exclude features such as Channels, Status and Meta AI.
WhatsApp’s latest controls are instead designed for teenagers using standard accounts, allowing families to establish additional restrictions while retaining access to the platform’s broader features.
The move comes as Meta faces growing scrutiny over the safety of young users across its platforms. The company has faced lawsuits alleging that its products can harm children, while lawmakers and regulators in several countries have pushed technology companies to strengthen protections for minors.
WhatsApp said the controls are intended to give parents a way to guide teenagers’ use of the platform while preserving the privacy of their conversations.
The company’s approach reflects the growing focus on giving families more control over digital services without requiring platforms to expose private communications or remove teenagers entirely from online messaging.
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Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
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