October 1, 2026, 10:29 am | Read time: 2 minutes
WhatsApp is introducing new features that allow parents to have more control over their children’s use of the messenger. The service promises increased safety for teenagers without compromising the confidentiality of private chats.
Parents Gain More Influence Over WhatsApp Usage
With the new parental controls, WhatsApp aims to provide families with additional tools to manage the service’s use together. The features are specifically designed for teenagers and can be activated voluntarily. According to WhatsApp, the goal is to protect teenagers without the need for constant monitoring.
Parents will soon be able to set important privacy settings. This includes who can see a teenager’s profile picture or who can add them to groups. If the teenager wants to change these settings later, parental consent is required. A PIN will be set up as an additional security barrier.
WhatsApp Tests Restricted Accounts for Children
WhatsApp Deletes Millions of Accounts Due to Global Fraud Scheme
Notifications About Groups and AI Features
Another focus is on transparency in group usage. Parents will be informed when their child joins or leaves a group. Notifications can also be triggered by significant changes within a group, such as a sharp increase in membership. This allows parents to better understand the digital environments their children are engaging with.
Additionally, the use of channels and the visibility of status updates can be controlled. New is the ability to influence the use of Meta AI. Parents can choose whether the default settings for users aged 13 and up apply or if they want to activate a stricter version with restricted content.
Private Messages Remain Protected
Despite the expanded intervention options, WhatsApp emphasizes that personal conversations remain private. Parents do not have access to their children’s messages or calls. End-to-end encryption remains unchanged, ensuring that the content of chats and calls is protected.
Also of interest: WhatsApp introduces video calls
According to the company, the new features are primarily intended to encourage discussions between parents and teenagers about responsible use of messenger services. At the same time, WhatsApp announces plans to gradually further develop the parental controls. Families can adjust or completely disable the features at any time and decide for themselves how much support a teenager needs.