{"id":28862,"date":"2026-03-13T05:53:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T05:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/13\/whatsapp-now-allows-kids-to-chat-with-friends-but-only-with-parental-support-how-it-works-tech-news\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T05:53:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T05:53:18","slug":"whatsapp-now-allows-kids-to-chat-with-friends-but-only-with-parental-support-how-it-works-tech-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/13\/whatsapp-now-allows-kids-to-chat-with-friends-but-only-with-parental-support-how-it-works-tech-news\/","title":{"rendered":"WhatsApp Now Allows Kids To Chat With Friends But Only With Parental Support: How It Works | Tech News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9958158\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">March 13, 2026, 10:40 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9958158\" class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 asubttl-schema\">WhatsApp is now allowing pre-teens to use the messaging app but most of its features are locked and the controls are with parents.<\/h2>\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-6cc80bfb3da3f7c2 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-6cc80bfb3da3f7c2 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-6cc80bfb3da3f7c2 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-6cc80bfb3da3f7c2 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" title=\"font\" class=\"jsx-6cc80bfb3da3f7c2 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-6cc80bfb3da3f7c2 artsharwrp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.whatsapp.com\/send?text=WhatsApp%20Now%20Allows%20Kids%20To%20Chat%20With%20Friends%20But%20Only%20With%20Parental%20Support%3A%20How%20It%20Works - %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/www.news18.com\/tech\/whatsapp-now-allows-kids-to-chat-with-friends-but-only-with-parental-support-how-it-works-9958158.html%3Futm_source%3Dwhatsapp%26utm_medium%3Dsocial_share%26utm_campaign%3Dnw18english%0D%0A %0D%0A Get the latest news anytime, anywhere. Install News18 app for free! %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/onelink.to\/website-share-eng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"jsx-6cc80bfb3da3f7c2 sclrnd wapp social_share\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-6cc80bfb3da3f7c2 notifycnt social_share\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_share_icon.svg\" alt=\"new share icon\" title=\"new share icon\" width=\"8\" height=\"9\" class=\"jsx-6cc80bfb3da3f7c2 social_share\"\/><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_whatsapp_icon.svg\" alt=\"new whatsapp icon\" title=\"new whatsapp icon\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" class=\"jsx-6cc80bfb3da3f7c2 social_share\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 amimg\">\n<div class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 amimgwrp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"WhatsApp wants to tap into the pre-teen users with the help of parents.\" title=\"WhatsApp wants to tap into the pre-teen users with the help of parents.\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282\"\/><i class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 imgzoom\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/zoom-img.svg\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 imgzoomicn tap_to_zoom\"\/><\/i><\/div>\n<p>WhatsApp wants to tap into the pre-teen users with the help of parents.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 flscrnimgwrp \"><img class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 flscrnimg\"\/><span class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"44\" height=\"44\" viewbox=\"0 0 44 44\" fill=\"none\" class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 flscrncls\"><circle cx=\"22\" cy=\"22\" r=\"22\" transform=\"rotate(-90 22 22)\" fill=\"#111111\" fill-opacity=\"0.9\" class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282\"\/><path d=\"M29.7757 16.8142L23.9651 22.6248L29.7757 28.4355L28.3108 29.9004L22.5002 24.0897L16.6896 29.9004L15.2247 28.4355L21.0353 22.6248L15.2247 16.8142L16.6896 15.3493L22.5002 21.16L28.3108 15.3493L29.7757 16.8142Z\" fill=\"white\" class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">WhatsApp is letting kids and pre-teens use the messaging app which is a big change for the platform as it looks to battle the ongoing concerns regarding child safety on the internet. Meta is making drastic changes to the kids version of WhatsApp which can only run with parental controls and also missing a host of features that you can access through the regular version of WhatsApp.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Social media apps are getting banned for kids in some regions and parents are worried about the misuse of these platforms, especially WhatsApp where people can connect just with the access to the phone number. Online addiction is also a big reason why apps need to be better controlled and WhatsApp is one of the many to go in this direction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\"><strong>WhatsApp For Kids Under 13: How To Set It Up<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Parental controls are not new as a concept and WhatsApp is merely integrating the existing system into its own platform. Here\u2019s how WhatsApp for the pre-teens is available and how people can make it work:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"listOncontentArticleUL\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight:400\">You need both the parent and kids devices next to each other <\/span><\/li>\n<li>Scan the QR code that you can see on WhatsApp running on your kid\u2019s phone<\/li>\n<li>The device linking process will be a success<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">The main work starts after the linking is completed. Parents will have the control over all the activities on the kids app and also be given the ability to access the content and handle the privacy settings for their account. They can decide who can chat with the kids account, and even which group their kid can join on WhatsApp\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\"><strong>More Privacy For Kids<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">The Kids version of WhatsApp does not have Channels, Status or even use features like disappearing chats and view-once photos. WhatsApp assures all the contents besides the parents are end-to-end encrypted which is now being legally challenged in the US but seems to be working in its usual form.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Kids accounts have an age limit and WhatsApp has a system in place wherein these users will be notified about the option to change their account to a standard profile without any parental controls. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><affilizz-magic-match classname=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 atbtlink Location\"><span>Location :<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Delhi, India, India<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>March 13, 2026, 10:40 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/tech\/\">tech<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> WhatsApp Now Allows Kids To Chat With Friends But Only With Parental Support: How It Works<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-84b04b7382bb4bce jsx-2374168282 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/tech\/whatsapp-now-allows-kids-to-chat-with-friends-but-only-with-parental-support-how-it-works-9958158.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:March 13, 2026, 10:40 IST WhatsApp is now allowing pre-teens to use the messaging app but most of its features are locked and the controls are with parents. WhatsApp wants to tap into the pre-teen users with the help of parents. WhatsApp is letting kids and pre-teens use the messaging app which is a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9503,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28862\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}