Overview
- Child accounts are limited to messaging and calls, with features like Status, Channels, location sharing and Meta AI turned off.
- Parents decide who can contact the child and which groups they may join, and requests from unknown numbers require review.
- Chats remain end-to-end encrypted so neither parents nor WhatsApp can read or listen to messages and calls.
- Setup links the child’s and a guardian’s devices side-by-side and access to controls is secured with a six-digit parental PIN.
- WhatsApp will test the feature with a small user group in the coming weeks and plans a phased global rollout over the next months, as experts highlight safety risks such as cybergrooming and broader questions about younger users on the platform.