- Implementation of managed accounts that allow guardians to manage the privacy and contacts of minors.
- Strict maintenance of end-to-end encryption, preventing parents from reading private chats.
- Monitoring tools for groups, channels, states, and the use of Meta AI's artificial intelligence.
When we talk about the mental health of young people and their use of devices, we often immediately think of TikTok and its age restrictions or video games, but the reality is that messaging apps can be a minefield. WhatsApp is the primary tool for family communication, but it can also become a channel for bullying or the spread of inappropriate content , generating constant worry at home.
Given this situation, Meta has decided to take a step forward by launching a series of monitoring tools. The idea is not to turn a child's mobile phone into an open book, but to offer parents a way to guide their children's digital development without breaking trust, adapting the application to their cognitive maturity and helping them navigate the internet safely.
What exactly do these functions consist of?
The big news is the arrival of what are called guardian-managed accounts . Unlike a standard account, these are designed specifically for pre-teens and allow the adult to configure privacy settings from their own linked device. This means parents can filter who their children talk to and review message requests from people not in their contact list.
It's crucial to clarify that, although there's greater control, WhatsApp maintains its core principle: end-to-end encryption. Therefore, no one can read personal messages or listen to calls, not even your own parents. The control focuses on account management and security, not on spying on private conversations.
Monitoring capabilities and restrictions
The system works using a parental PIN that protects the security settings. If the child tries to change any restrictions, they will need this code to do so. Among the functions that adults can manage are:
- Visibility control: Decide who can see the child's profile picture and who has permission to add them to groups.
- Activity Alerts: The system alerts you when a teenager joins or leaves a group, or when an existing group grows disproportionately in the number of members.
- Channel and Status Management: You can limit access to certain channels, prohibit the minor from creating their own, or restrict who sees their status updates.
- Meta AI Supervision: Guardians can choose between the standard settings for ages 13 and up or a mode of Limited content to filter sensitive topics.
For younger users, there are some additional limitations. For example, features such as sending ephemeral photos and videos , automatic message deletion, real-time location sharing, and using the app on computers and tablets are disabled.
How to set up a managed account
If you want to implement this system, you should know that the rollout is gradual and may vary by region. The general process requires having both devices available. First, on the child's phone, the option to create a guardian-managed account must be selected when setting up the number. After this, a QR code will appear that the parent must scan with their own phone to link both accounts and set the security PIN.
If the account already exists, in some cases it may be necessary to reinstall the app for the parental controls option to appear in the settings menu. Once configured, the adult can adjust the level of supervision according to the child's age and level of trust, and can deactivate the tools at any time.
The debate between protection and privacy
Implementing these measures is not without controversy. Neuroeducation experts suggest that the adolescent brain has not yet fully developed the capacity for self-regulation in the prefrontal cortex , making them more vulnerable to social pressure. Therefore, these tools are seen as a necessary support, provided they are not used as a rigid form of control, but rather as a gradual learning process.
The key to preventing this from turning into a family fight is transparency. It's much better to sit down with your children and explain the risks of phishing and grooming, setting up the options together. When teenagers understand that these measures are for their protection and not to invade their privacy, they are much more likely to accept them as a safety net.
We now have an ecosystem where it's possible to balance children's autonomy with adult responsibility, using parental controls to prevent impulsive changes and limiting advanced features like AI and channels. Through device linking and contact management, WhatsApp aims to reduce exposure to digital risks while respecting the privacy of personal chats through encryption.
