Meta to allow under-13s use WhatsApp through parent-managed accounts

Meta has announced a new feature that will allow children under 13 to use WhatsApp through parent-managed accounts designed with stricter privacy and safety controls.

The company said the new system introduces additional safeguards that allow parents or guardians to monitor and control how younger users interact on the messaging platform.

The feature will roll out gradually over the coming months.

New controls for younger users

Under the new setup, parents must link their phone with the child’s device in order to create and manage the account.

Once connected, the parent or guardian will be able to decide who can send messages to the child and which groups the account can join.

The accounts are limited to basic messaging and voice calls, meaning other WhatsApp features such as Channels, location sharing, and Meta’s AI integrations will not be available.

Parents will also receive notifications when a child receives group invitations or message requests from unknown contacts, allowing them to approve or decline those interactions.

Privacy settings and protections

The parent-managed accounts will include additional safeguards such as PIN-protected privacy settings, ensuring that only the supervising adult can make changes.

Children will first see message requests from unknown contacts before any interaction takes place, giving parents an extra layer of control.

As with standard WhatsApp chats, conversations on the managed accounts will still use end-to-end encryption, meaning messages remain private between the sender and recipient.

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By default, only contacts saved in the child’s address book will be able to send messages.

Part of broader safety push

The new feature forms part of Meta’s wider effort to strengthen parental controls across its social media platforms.

In recent years, the company has introduced similar safety systems across its services. For example, teen accounts for users aged 13 to 15 were introduced on Facebook and Facebook Messenger, while stricter privacy controls for users under 16 were previously implemented on Instagram.

Earlier in 2026, Meta also paused interactions between teenagers and some of its AI chatbot characters after concerns emerged about inappropriate conversations between the bots and minors.

The company said the new WhatsApp feature is intended to create a safer environment for younger users while still allowing families to stay connected through the messaging platform.