Overview
- Setup requires the parent and child devices side by side, linking via QR code and locking controls behind a six‑digit parent PIN.
- Pre‑teen accounts are limited to messaging and calling and exclude Meta AI, Channels, Status, disappearing messages in 1:1 chats, location sharing, and other advanced features; WhatsApp says these accounts will not see ads.
- Unknown contacts and group invites land in a requests folder accessible only with the parent PIN, with context cards, default image blurring, and the option to silence calls from unknown numbers.
- Availability is region‑dependent as a phased rollout begins, and during setup WhatsApp may prompt adults to verify their identity, which some guides say can involve a selfie.
- When a child turns 13, the account can convert to a standard profile with an option for parents to delay conversion by up to 12 months; privacy experts note unresolved questions about meeting verifiable parental‑consent rules such as India’s DPDP.