Meta announces parent-managed accounts will be available in WhatsApp, rolling out from March 2026.
With social media bans for children currently being discussed and implemented across the world, WhatsApp has officially rolled out parent-managed accounts for those under the age of 13.
These dedicated accounts allow parents and guardians to oversee WhatsApp accounts that are specifically designed for children under 13. Unlike standard accounts where users have full autonomy, these accounts mean parents can oversee their child’s activity. Parents can actively decide who their children can message, approve all incoming contact requests and manage their privacy settings.
Oversight of contacts
At the centre of the parent-managed accounts is contact management. Parents have control over who can initiate conversations with their child, meaning that strangers cannot reach out to children without their approval. Meta has added this feature to specifically address one of the primary safety concerns parents have expressed about messaging apps. Children can only be added to groups by their parents and people that parents allow – they won’t be able to create their own groups, either.
Alongside this, it will be possible for parents to review and modify privacy settings, restrict location sharing and control profile visibility.
Gradual rollout
The parent-managed accounts rollout has begun this month and will run in selected countries before expanding globally. The accounts will only be available with the latest version of WhatsApp.
Education alongside supervision
As children need to learn about online environments and social media, this initial parental supervision in WhatsApp is welcomed, giving parents more peace of mind and providing a safer online environment within WhatsApp accounts.
However, this is just one app; there is still an exceptionally long way to go to ensure children have the skills and knowledge to be able to navigate the online world in safety.
References
- WhatsApp launches parent-managed accounts. Available at: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/whatsapp-launches-parent-managed-accounts (Accessed 07 March 2026)
