Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has introduced a new ‘parent-managed’ account system that will allow children under the age of 13 to use the messaging platform. Previously, WhatsApp required users to be at least 13 years old to create an account. With the new system, however, parents or guardians will have full control over their children’s accounts, enabling them to monitor and manage how the app is used. According to the company, the feature was developed after feedback from experts and families, to help children communicate through messaging and calls in a safer and more supervised environment.
Understand the whole matter in QA Question 1: What is this new ‘parent-managed’ account on WhatsApp? Answer: This is for children under 13 years of age. Through this, parents will be able to set up WhatsApp for their children. In this, children will only be able to send messages and make calls. Apart from this, other WhatsApp features will be closed or limited for them. Question 2: What was the age limit until now and why did the company make this change? Answer: Until now, the minimum age to use WhatsApp was 13 years. The company stated that many children were already secretly using the app, so this ‘managed model’ has been introduced on the advice of experts so that children can chat safely. Question 3: What kind of control will parents have over this account? Answer: Parents will decide who the child can talk to and who they cannot. That is, they will manage the contact list. Additionally, parents will be able to restrict contacting strangers or joining random groups. The right to change privacy settings will also belong only to parents. Question 4: Will parents be able to read their children’s private messages? Answer: No. WhatsApp messages for children will remain secure with ‘end-to-end encryption’. This means that messages will only be between the sender and the receiver. Parents will not be able to read them from their own devices. To lock privacy settings, the company has provided a ‘Parent PIN’ feature. Question 5: Will children need a separate SIM card or phone for this? Answer: The company has not yet provided complete information regarding the SIM card, but the device on which the child uses WhatsApp will be linked to the parent’s main account. Question 6: When and to whom will this feature be available? Answer: WhatsApp is gradually rolling out this feature (in phases). In the coming weeks, it will be available to all users worldwide. Question 7: What do privacy experts say about this? Answer: This will increase children’s safety as they will now be under the parents’ supervision. However, some experts are still raising concerns about the security of children’s data. Knowledge Part: What is End-to-End Encryption? End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) is a security method that ensures only the sender and the receiver can read a message. No one else, not even the service provider—can access the content while it is being sent. For example, apps like WhatsApp and Signal use end-to-end encryption to protect chats. How it works Even the company running the service cannot see the message content.
Simple example Think of it like sending a locked box:
