WhatsApp rolls out parental controls for teenagers. Here is how to activate them

WhatsApp has launched optional parental controls for teenagers, giving parents more say over privacy settings, group activity, Channels and Meta AI access. The controls keep teenagers' personal messages and calls private because they do not open end-to-end encrypted chats.

Parents link their accounts to a teenager's account with a QR code, set a PIN, and review activity alerts. The feature is rolling out gradually on Android and iPhone. WhatsApp says the settings are automatically removed when a teenager turns 18.

What parents can control

Parents can decide who sees their teenager's profile photograph and who can add them to groups. They can manage how the teenager uses Channels, whose Status updates the teenager can view, and who sees the teenager's own updates.

For Meta AI, parents can choose the default setting for users aged 13 and above or select a stricter “Limited Content” option that narrows what the AI can discuss. WhatsApp announced the feature on September 30, 2026. It said the controls were designed to help parents guide teenagers' use of the platform while encouraging conversations about their online activities.

Parents can adjust the controls as needs change or switch them off entirely.

How to activate parental controls on WhatsApp

Update WhatsApp: Install the latest available version on the parent's and teenager's phones.

Find parental controls: Open WhatsApp Settings and look for the parental controls section.

Link the accounts: Follow the on-screen instructions to scan a QR code and connect the accounts.

Enter the teenager's date of birth: This helps WhatsApp apply age-based account management.

Create a PIN: Set a parent-controlled PIN to protect the selected settings.

Choose the controls: Review the available privacy, Channels, Status and Meta AI options together.

WhatsApp uses the birth date to remove parental controls automatically when the teenager turns 18. The parent-set PIN prevents teenagers from relaxing protected settings without approval. A teenager who wants to loosen a privacy restriction will need their parent's authorisation. Parents can revisit the controls whenever necessary, rather than treating the initial choices as permanent restrictions.

Alerts and privacy limits

Parents can receive notifications when their teenager joins or leaves a group. WhatsApp also alerts them when a group their teenager belongs to grows significantly. Such alerts flag changes in group activity without revealing the messages exchanged in those conversations. WABetaInfo says there is an activity log where parents can review recent account events without opening the teenager's chats.

Activating parental controls does not give parents access to private conversations. Personal messages and calls remain protected by end-to-end encryption. The controls cover account settings and selected activity signals, not the content of conversations.

The feature is reaching users gradually on Android and iOS, so some families may not see it immediately. Keeping WhatsApp updated prepares users to access the controls when they become available. An update alone does not guarantee immediate access.

Separately, WhatsApp is testing 2x video playback for Status updates. The change allows users to temporarily watch videos at twice their normal speed.