MESSAGING
Parental Controls for WhatsApp
A phone-number-based messaging app for chats, calls and groups, with a parent-managed account for under-13s and privacy settings for older teens.
THE 30-SECOND OVERVIEW
What You Need to Know About WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a messaging app tied to a phone number, used for one-to-one and group chats and for voice and video calls. Parent-managed accounts let parents manage privacy settings, limit who can message a pre-teen and decide which groups they can join.
Safety here comes from two things: choosing the right account for the child's age, and locking down who can reach them. The main risks are being added to group chats by strangers, and content arriving from unknown numbers.
SET-UP GUIDANCE
👉 Do This First
Parental controls can feel overwhelming at the start. We recommend setting up these foundations first before anything else.
Choose the Right Account for Your Child's Age
What it does: If your child is under 13, set up a parent-managed account, where you link your phone to theirs and control contacts, groups and privacy from your own device. At 13 years and above, they use a standard account and your job is to set its privacy with them.
Learn more: https://www.whatsapp.com/security/parent-managed-accounts
Set a PIN and Check Privacy Settings
What it does: On a managed account, set a six-digit parent PIN, which gates contacts, groups, privacy and the message-requests folder so your child cannot change them. On a standard teen account there is no PIN, so make sure the number is shared only with people they know, since anyone with it can message or add them.
Learn more:
• https://faq.whatsapp.com/899820539143195/?helpref=uf_share
• https://faq.whatsapp.com/323781503786199/?helpref=uf_share
🛠️ Customise For Your Family
Fine tune what your child can do in the app with these settings. We recommend reviewing these settings periodically and adjusting them to match your child's growth.
Control Who Can Message and Add to Groups
What it does: The biggest WhatsApp risk is being added to a group by a stranger. On a managed account, only the parent can add the child to a group, and other invites come through as a link only the parent can accept. On a standard account, set Groups to "My contacts" and set last seen, profile photo and about to contacts only.
Learn more:
Silence Unknown Callers
What it does: Switch on silencing calls from unknown numbers so your child is not pressured by random callers. This is default on managed accounts and a manual toggle on standard ones.
Learn more: https://faq.whatsapp.com/673193694148537/?helpref=uf_share
Turn Off Disappearing Messages
What it does: Keep disappearing messages off so nothing quietly vanishes. On managed accounts, disappearing messages are already disabled in one-to-one chats.
Learn more: https://faq.whatsapp.com/673193694148537
⚠️ What These Controls Won't Do
The app is the most contained option for young children, but two things are worth knowing.
No one can read the messages, including you. Encryption means there is no dashboard and no way to review content. Managed accounts control the perimeter, who gets in, not what is said.
A second number is a way around it. Controls only cover the account you set up. A teen with another SIM or number can start an unmanaged account, so the conversation matters.
Things to Watch Out For:
Being added to groups with people your child does not know.
Messages or calls from unknown numbers, or requests to move to another app.
Disappearing messages switched on in a chat.
A second WhatsApp account on another number or device.
LAST UPDATED: JULY 2026
Settings and features change often, so please visit the app's official sources for the latest updates. The links provided are external sources, please note that we do not assume responsibility for the content found on these external links.