WhatsApp parent-managed accounts are now rolling out globally, giving parents and guardians direct control over who can contact their children and which groups they can join on the platform.
The feature targets children under 13. Moreover, these accounts restrict access to several platform features, including Meta AI, Channels, Status, and location sharing.
How WhatsApp Parent-Managed Accounts Work
Setting up a WhatsApp parent-managed account requires both the parent’s and the child’s devices to be present simultaneously. The parent must register and verify the child’s phone number, confirm the child’s age, and scan a QR code on the child’s device to link the two accounts.
Parents can also set a 6-digit PIN on the managed device. Consequently, only the parent can access and modify message requests, privacy settings, and activity alerts.
“The new parental controls and settings are gated by a parent PIN on the managed device. Only parents can access and change privacy settings, ensuring they are empowered to tailor their family’s experience.”
WhatsApp
Privacy and Encryption Protections
All messages in managed accounts remain end-to-end encrypted. As a result, no third party — including parents — can read the child’s chats or listen to their calls.
“All personal conversations remain private and protected with end-to-end encryption, meaning no one — not even WhatsApp — can see or hear them.”
WhatsApp
This approach balances parental oversight with the child’s right to private communication. However, parents retain control over who initiates contact with the child.
Contact Controls and Unknown Sender Alerts
By default, managed accounts can exchange messages only with contacts already saved on the child’s device. Furthermore, only parents can add the child’s account to any group.
When an unknown contact attempts to reach the child, a context card appears. Specifically, the card shows whether the unknown contact shares any groups with the child and which country they are from.
Parents receive activity alerts in several situations. These include when the child receives a new chat request, adds a new contact, or when a group they belong to adds new members.
“Parents will receive notifications about important activity, like when their child receives a message request from an unknown contact. They can customize the notifications they receive about other activities, such as when their child leaves a group.”
WhatsApp
Account Transition and Meta’s Broader Teen Safety Push
A child can transition their WhatsApp parent-managed account to a standard profile upon turning 13. At that point, they gain full access to all WhatsApp features without parental controls.
Meta introduced similar dedicated accounts for teens under 16 on Facebook and Messenger in September 2025. That rollout came one year after Meta applied the same feature to Instagram users.
Additionally, Meta introduced new anti-scam protections for WhatsApp on the same day. These protections warn users when behavioral signals suggest a device-linking request may be fraudulent.