Hyderabad : WhatsApp is preparing a major update aimed at improving online safety for children. The messaging platform is currently working on a new parental control system that will allow parents to create secondary WhatsApp accounts for their children, offering limited access and added security through a PIN-based control mechanism.
According to recent findings in the Android WhatsApp beta version 2.26.3.6, the new feature will enable parents to monitor and manage their child’s WhatsApp usage more effectively. The secondary account is designed specifically for children who are below WhatsApp’s minimum age requirement or for those who require restricted access for safety reasons.
Limited access for child accounts
Under this system, children using secondary accounts will only be able to chat or make calls with saved contacts. Communication with unknown phone numbers will be blocked, reducing the risk of unwanted interactions.
How the system will work
During setup, the child’s WhatsApp account will be linked to the parent’s main account by scanning a QR code. Parents will then be required to set a six-digit primary PIN, which will be needed to approve any important changes. This ensures that children cannot modify account settings on their own.
Several features will be disabled on secondary accounts. Children will not have access to the Updates tab, meaning they will not be able to view channels or broadcast content. The Chat Lock feature will also be unavailable, preventing chats from being hidden and making supervision easier for parents.
Privacy remains protected
WhatsApp has clarified that message and call privacy will remain fully protected. End-to-end encryption will not be affected, and parents will not be able to read message content. However, parents may receive notifications when a new contact is added to the child’s account.
The secondary account will remain linked to the parent’s account until it is manually removed or until the child reaches WhatsApp’s minimum age requirement. Once eligible, the account can be converted into a regular WhatsApp profile, subject to acceptance of updated terms and conditions.
Feature still under development
The parental control feature is currently in the development stage and is not yet available, even for beta users. It is expected to roll out in future updates.
However, according to a report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp has not yet disclosed how it plans to verify a user’s age. Questions remain about how the platform will prevent children from creating accounts by entering incorrect age details without parental consent.
WhatsApp has yet to provide clarity on its age verification mechanism, making this a key issue to watch as the feature moves closer to launch.