In response, Meta is preparing a new system that will allow children under the age of 13 in the United Kingdom to access WhatsApp under strict parental supervision.
The technology company confirmed that parents will be able to create and manage WhatsApp accounts for their children who are under 13 years old. Under the proposed system, parents will be required to set up these accounts themselves and link them to their own profiles.
With the new feature, a child’s WhatsApp account will remain connected to a parent or guardian until the user turns 13. Parents will have the authority to control who can contact their child on the platform.
Despite this oversight, parents will not be able to read the messages exchanged by their children. Communication on the app will continue to be protected by end-to-end encryption between the sender and the receiver.
Accounts for users under 13 will also have limited functionality. Young users will only be able to send messages and make phone calls, while other features such as Meta’s AI chatbot, status updates and channels will not be available. Disappearing messages in private chats will also be restricted.
The plan comes as regulators increase scrutiny over how technology companies manage children’s data and online safety. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office has said that tech companies must ensure that services used by children comply with the standards set out in the organisation’s Children’s Code and follow strict data protection rules.
Meta stated that the new system responds to requests from parents who want their children to use the platform safely while maintaining parental control over interactions. The company also said that accounts for users under 13 will require verification from a parent or guardian in order to remain active.
