Despite the supervision tools, WhatsApp said message content will remain protected by end-to-end encryption.

WhatsApp Introduces Parent-Supervised Accounts for Children Under 13

WhatsApp is preparing to introduce a new system that will allow children under the age of 13 to use the platform through accounts supervised by their parents or guardians.

The messaging service, owned by Meta Platforms, said the new feature is designed to give families greater control over how younger users access the platform while maintaining existing privacy protections.

Under the proposed system, parents or guardians will be able to create accounts for children and limit their use of the platform primarily to messaging and calling. Parents will also have the ability to manage the child’s contact list, allowing them to control who can communicate with the account.

The company said parental control settings and privacy options will be protected with a PIN so that only parents or guardians can view or modify these controls.

Despite the supervision tools, WhatsApp said message content will remain protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning that the platform itself will not have access to private conversations.

The introduction of supervised accounts represents a shift in WhatsApp’s existing policy, which until now required users to be at least 13 years old in most regions to create an account.

WhatsApp said the feature is being rolled out gradually and was developed after receiving feedback from families and experts on child safety.