WhatsApp rolls out optional parental controls for teens
In short
WhatsApp has added optional parental controls for teens. Parents can now manage privacy settings, group activity, Channels, Status and Meta AI access.
This matters because it gives families more control over teen use of the app. The report says Meta is under heavy scrutiny over harm to children and young people, but it does not say when the feature will be available everywhere.
What the reporting says
WhatsApp introduced optional parental controls for teens, letting parents manage privacy settings, group activity, Channels, Status and Meta AI access. The rollout comes as Meta’s products face intense scrutiny over harm to children and young people. The immediate consequence is more control for parents within the app, while the reporting does not say how many users will get the feature or when it will reach all markets.
Why it matters
WhatsApp’s new optional parental controls allow parents to manage several teen-account settings, including privacy, groups, Channels, Status and Meta AI access. The rollout is relevant to Meta because the company’s products are under scrutiny over harm to children and young people. The reporting suggests a safety-focused product update, but it does not state rollout timing, geography or whether the controls are mandatory.