WhatsApp adds new parental controls for teen accounts

image via TechCrunch

September 30, 2026, 1:50 PM

• •WhatsApp added parent-controlled settings for teen accounts covering channels, Status visibility, profile photo visibility, and who can add teens to groups.
• •Parents can receive alerts when a teen joins or leaves a group, or when a group's size reaches 30, 100, or 250 members.
• •The controls are protected by a parent-set PIN, and parents can disable the controls entirely.
• •WhatsApp also added Meta AI content settings, including a stricter Limited Content mode that disables private-processing features such as incognito chat and message summaries.
• •WhatsApp said the changes do not affect end-to-end encryption for messages and calls.

WhatsApp is adding new parental controls for teen accounts that let guardians manage channels, Status visibility, profile photo visibility, and group invitations. Parents can also receive notifications when teens join or leave groups or when a group's membership crosses certain size thresholds. The settings are protected by a parent-set PIN, and parents can also choose stricter Meta AI content settings that disable some private-processing features. Meta is rolling out the changes as it faces ongoing scrutiny and legal pressure over child safety across its apps.

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