WhatsApp has introduced a new feature allowing parents to create supervised accounts for children under the age of 13, giving families greater control over how younger users communicate on the messaging platform.
The feature, launched by the service owned by Meta Platforms, limits pre-teen accounts to basic functions such as messaging and voice calls while restricting access to several other features available to standard users. The company said the accounts will also not be targeted with advertisements.
Although the messaging app carries a minimum age rating of 13 on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, Meta acknowledged that many younger children already use the platform, mainly to stay connected with parents and family members.
Meta said the new parent-managed accounts were developed following feedback from parents seeking safer ways to communicate with children who have begun using smartphones.
During the setup process, both the parent and the child must have their devices present. The accounts are linked through a QR code verification system, allowing parents to configure monitoring settings from their own device.
Parents will automatically receive notifications when the child adds, blocks or reports a contact. Optional alerts can also be enabled for other activities, including when the child changes their name or profile picture, receives a chat request, joins or leaves a group, or deletes conversations and contacts. All supervision settings are protected by a six-digit parental PIN.
Meta said the supervised accounts will not have access to several features such as the platform’s artificial intelligence assistant, Channels or the Status update function. Pre-teen users will also be unable to activate disappearing messages in private chats.
To enhance safety, messages from unknown contacts will be accompanied by contextual information cards showing whether the sender shares mutual groups with the child and the country the message originates from. Images from unfamiliar senders will also be automatically blurred.
Chat requests and group invitation links will be placed in a separate folder that can only be opened using the parent’s PIN. Parents will also be able to review details about groups, including the number of members and the administrator, before approving entry.
Meta said once the child becomes older, the account can be converted into a regular account, although parents may delay the transition for up to 12 months.
The rollout of the feature has begun in selected regions and will expand gradually in the coming months. The move comes amid increasing global concern over children’s access to digital platforms, with countries such as Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom considering stricter rules on underage social media use.
-THE MALAYSIA VOICE
