There are parental controls now
For years the answer was that WhatsApp had nothing for parents. That changed in March 2026, when Meta launched parent-managed accounts for children under 13. If you looked this up a few months ago and were told it was "in development", that information is out of date.
Another detail that is often stale: the minimum age is 13 everywhere, including the European Union. The European minimum of 16 stopped applying in April 2024.
Creating a parent-managed account
The process starts on your child's phone, not yours. That is the most common mistake when trying it.
- On your child's phone, while registering WhatsApp, tap More options.
- Choose "Create a parent-managed account".
- Verify your child's phone number as in any signup.
- A QR code appears: scan it from YOUR phone.
- Create your 6-digit PIN. It unlocks contact requests and group invitations.
- Set up approved contacts and the initial privacy settings.
What a managed account includes
If your child is 13 or older
At 13 they use a regular account, and there are no parental controls there — what exists are privacy settings worth going through together, once and properly. Go to Settings > Privacy.
What's new in 2026
Parent-managed accounts launched on March 11, 2026, and their global rollout continues through the year. They are the big change: until then, the only way to contain WhatsApp for a child was from the phone, through Screen Time or Family Link.
It is worth knowing that Meta's AI assistant is built into the app and cannot be uninstalled or turned off on a regular account. On managed accounts it ships disabled — a solid reason to use one while your child is under 13.