WhatsApp: Privacy & Parent-Managed Accounts

New: Parent-managed accounts for kids under 13

In March 2026, WhatsApp launched parent-managed accounts for children under 13. These accounts let parents approve or block contact requests, manage group memberships, and control privacy settings — while all messages remain end-to-end encrypted. Only saved contacts can message a managed account by default, and message requests from unknown contacts are locked behind a parent PIN.

Setting up a parent-managed account

1. Open WhatsApp on YOUR device and go to Settings > Linked Accounts > Set up child account.
2. Follow the prompts to create a managed account on your child's phone.
3. Set your parent PIN (used to unlock contact requests and group invites).
4. Configure initial privacy settings and approved contacts.

What parent-managed accounts include

• Only saved contacts can message the child by default
• Message requests from unknown numbers go to a PIN-locked folder
• Group invite links are PIN-protected
• Parents receive alerts for new chat requests, new contacts, and group changes
• Meta AI, Channels, Status, and location sharing are disabled
• All messages remain end-to-end encrypted (parents cannot read them)

Privacy settings for teens (13+)

If your child is 13 or older and has a regular WhatsApp account, configure these privacy settings together.

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Privacy.
2. Set "Last Seen" and "Online" to "My Contacts" or "Nobody."
3. Set "Profile Photo" to "My Contacts."
4. Set "About" to "My Contacts."
5. Under "Groups", select "My Contacts" to prevent strangers from adding them to groups.
6. Make sure "Live Location" is turned off.
7. Turn on Two-Step Verification in Settings > Account.

Settings checklist

• Profile photo visible only to contacts
• About visible only to contacts
• Last seen: Contacts only or nobody
• Groups: Only contacts can add them
• Two-step verification turned on
• Live location sharing turned off
• Talk to your child about not responding to unknown numbers