WhatsApp is introducing parent-managed accounts for pre-teens, giving guardians control over who can contact them and which groups they join.

Parents can set a 6-digit PIN to access and adjust message requests, privacy settings, and activity alerts on the supervised device.

Unknown messages will be blocked unless approved by the parent, with guardians notified about the child’s activity while the content remains private from the parent.

The rollout is framed within broader global policy trends, as governments weigh social media bans or age restrictions for minors, including potential moves in India and Australia.

The announcement aligns with ongoing debates and proposals in regions like Australia and France regarding age limits and safeguards for younger users.

The feature will begin this week with a small user group and expand over several months, though specific dates for France were not provided.

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Rollout will start in select geographies and broaden over the coming months, continuing Meta’s pattern of extending safety controls for younger users.

The phased rollout mirrors Meta’s broader approach to enhancing safety features for minors across its apps.

The move follows similar protective measures from platforms like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram amid tightening scrutiny and potential bans of youth-focused social networks.

The measures respond to safety concerns such as manipulation attempts to obtain security codes or PINs, and aim to reduce risk to young users.