WhatsApp Rolls Out New Parental Controls for Child Accounts on iPhone
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
WhatsApp has launched a new parental control feature on iPhone, allowing parents to manage their child's account with age-based restrictions and automatic removal at adulthood. The feature is rolling out gradually and not yet available to all users.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- WhatsApp adds a dedicated parental control section for child accounts on iPhone.
- Parents must link their child's device via QR code and enter the child's birthdate.
- Child accounts have restricted features like disabled channels and status updates.
- Restrictions automatically lift when the child turns 18 without parental action.
- The feature is rolling out gradually and not yet visible to all iPhone users.
- WhatsApp has not provided a timeline for full availability of the parental controls.
WhatsApp has introduced a dedicated parental control section within its iPhone app settings, enabling parents to manage their child's account more easily. Although the feature was initially launched in select regions in March, it was not prominently displayed until now. The new setup requires parents to have the child's device nearby to scan a QR code or approve an invitation, and to enter the child's birthdate, which WhatsApp uses internally to apply appropriate restrictions.
Accounts under parental control have limited access to WhatsApp features, such as disabling channels and status updates. Once the child turns 18, these restrictions are automatically lifted without any parental intervention. This update aligns with Meta's broader efforts to enhance age verification and protect minors across its platforms.
The parental control option is being rolled out gradually and may not yet be visible to all iPhone users, even those with the latest WhatsApp version 26.30.77. WhatsApp has not announced when the feature will be universally available or how users can manually enable it at this stage.
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