WhatsApp is rolling out a dedicated Parental controls section on iPhone, giving parents a simpler way to set up and manage parent-managed accounts. The new section brings the setup process into a dedicated area of WhatsApp’s settings instead of requiring parents to look through other privacy options.
The feature follows the rollout of the same dedicated section on Android last month. Parent-managed accounts are designed for younger users in supported regions, giving parents more control over who can contact their child and how the account can be used.
What WhatsApp’s Parental Controls Can Do
WhatsApp introduced parent-managed accounts earlier this year to give parents and guardians more control over accounts used by children who are below the minimum age required to use WhatsApp in their country or region.
Once an account is managed by a parent, the parent can control who is allowed to contact the child and which groups the account can join. WhatsApp also limits access to certain features, including Channels and Status.
Parents can see some account activity and changes as well. This includes information about new contacts, blocked users, and profile updates, giving parents more visibility without giving them access to the child’s private conversations.
The controls are protected by a parent PIN on the managed device. WhatsApp says only the parent can access and change the relevant privacy settings, allowing families to configure the account based on their needs.
The new iPhone section mainly improves how parents access these controls. When a parent opens Parental controls in WhatsApp’s settings, the app presents a dedicated setup screen explaining how to connect the parent’s account with the child’s device.
How To Set Up Parent-Managed Accounts on iPhone
The setup requires both the parent’s phone and the child’s phone. WhatsApp asks the parent to keep their own phone nearby while using the child’s device to begin the setup process.
Depending on the setup, the parent can scan a QR code or accept an invitation on their own phone to link the accounts. Once the invitation is accepted, the parent returns to the child’s phone to finish configuring the managed account.
WhatsApp has designed the process as a guided setup, so parents do not need any technical knowledge to connect the accounts or configure the available controls.
Availability depends on the child’s age, country, and local regulations. Meta says that in some regions, Apple may provide a child’s age range directly rather than requiring parents to enter the information themselves.
The new Parental controls section is currently rolling out on iPhone, following its earlier appearance on Android. Because the feature is tied to local age requirements and regional availability, it may not appear for every WhatsApp user immediately.
For families that already have access to parent-managed accounts, the dedicated section should make the feature much easier to find and configure on iPhone.
(via WABetaInfo)
