After WhatsApp unveiled parent-managed accounts for younglings earlier this year, the Meta-owned messenger has expanded those parental controls to teen accounts. Parents won’t quite get a peek at what their teens are saying, but they will get a say in how their child engages with Channels, Status updates, and even Meta AI.
Your teens are texting – and mum has questions…
Parents overseeing their teens’ WhatsApp account will now be notified any time the kid joins or leaves a group. Taking this surveillance a step further, parents will also be warned when a group they’re active in “grows meaningfully in size.” Also included is the ability to set whose Status updates they can see, and who can see theirs.
WhatsApp says “parents will be able to choose how their teen can use Channels,” though it doesn’t delve into any specifics. We’re guessing these new settings can hide certain Channels from the ‘Updates’ tab, if needed. Similar to the group chat changes, we imagine parents will be notified any time their child subscribes to a Channel.
Read More: WhatsApp begins testing ‘guest calls’ that don’t require an account
The most important change involves Meta AI, the app’s built-in chatbot and image generation functionality. Currently, there are no limits imposed on child-owned accounts, potentially leading to harmful or inaccurate advice. Parents can still allow the standard experience intended for ages 13 and up, or they can now toggle a strict “Limited Content” option. Turn it on, and Meta AI will block a broader range of prompts and disable features that rely on private processing.
Any and all of these additions are entirely optional and can be enabled at the parent’s discretion. If enabled, these settings are protected by a PIN (set up by the parent). If a teen is looking to change a setting, they’ll need their parents’ approval first. The update was released yesterday, so it should be along shortly if it hasn’t arrived on your device already. Check the Play Store or App Store to see if there’s an update waiting.
