WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that lets parents monitor certain account-level activities from their child's account. The update allows parents to stay informed about changes and interactions, even though they cannot read the child's messages.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | Parent-managed accounts |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | The latest versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS are designated as compatible updates. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.10.4: what's new? WhatsApp is working on higher-tier subscription plans for Meta AI! |
WhatsApp launches secondary accounts to help parents manage children's messaging safely
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.1.30 update, we announced primary controls to help parents manage secondary accounts with limited features. This tool is designed to allow young users to create an account with limited functionality. These accounts will be linked to their parent's account through a dedicated connection right within WhatsApp. Once configured, parents would be able to receive certain updates from their children's accounts.
At the time we reported the news, the feature was under development. This allowed WhatsApp to continue refining the experience and work on additional details before making it available to the public. Today, WhatsApp has officially announced the introduction of secondary accounts in a post on the WhatsApp Blog, a new feature designed to provide a safer experience for younger users.
WhatsApp has announced secondary accounts that help parents offer oversight of their child's account activity. A parent or guardian can create a secondary account by connecting their own account directly to the child's account. It is possible to create this connection through a secure configuration, which involves a verification step to confirm the relationship between the parent and the child. The verification step lets only authorized guardians manage the linked account. Messages from unknown accounts are delivered in a separate inbox called "Requests". Parents can review and approve unknown message requests for the child and monitor reports. This means that children can still send and receive messages from approved contacts.
Secondary accounts allow children to use some core features of the app, including messaging, media sharing, and calls. However, they also restrict other features that may not be appropriate for younger users, such as channels and status updates. The parent account receives notifications about certain activities, such as when a new contact is added or when account settings are changed. This feature is built to maintain privacy for the child, but it still gives parents visibility into account management.
WhatsApp has implemented these controls without introducing any invasive monitoring of messages. This means that parents do not have access to the content of conversations. Instead, updates focus on account-level activities such as contact requests, blocked users, and profile info changes. Children can see that the account is linked and understand what information is shared with their parent. Secondary accounts also offer the same end-to-end encryption that applies to all messages on WhatsApp. End-to-end encryption ensures that conversations and calls remain private and secure, even when parents manage the account.
Parents can also remove or unlink a child's account at any time. This means that parents have full control over discontinuing the connection between their account and the child's account. The system is designed to work with other existing safety features, such as contact blocking and reporting tools. As a result, families can rely on multiple layers of protection.
Secondary accounts make it easier for parents to review account activity. Families with multiple children can create separate accounts for each child, each linked to the same parent account for improved management. WhatsApp has published detailed guides for both Android and iOS. These explain how to create, connect, and manage these accounts safely.
Parent-managed accounts are available to a limited number of users who install the latest WhatsApp updates on iOS and Android. WhatsApp is gradually rolling out this feature. Users who have access can test how the parental controls work, including linking a child's account to a parent's account. WhatsApp will regularly update this system to refine the interface and controls based on user feedback.
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