WhatsApp has introduced new parental control features aimed at teenagers, enabling parents to manage certain aspects of their child's account without being able to read the actual messages. These controls allow parents to adjust privacy settings, manage group memberships, control access to WhatsApp Channels and Statuts (a feature allowing users to share short updates), and set limits on the Meta AI assistant used within the app. The settings are optional and are configured directly between the parent and teenager, using a PIN code chosen by the parent. The messages remain encrypted, ensuring that no one outside the conversation—including WhatsApp—can access the content. The feature was first mentioned in January by WABetaInfo, a source that uncovered a "secondary account" in a beta version of WhatsApp that functioned as a guardian account. In March, reports suggested that WhatsApp was testing accounts for pre-teens, where parents had control over contacts and group memberships. The latest update specifically targets teenagers, offering them and their parents more structured tools for managing online interactions. According to WhatsApp, the new features are designed to help parents support their teenager's use of the app without overstepping, while also encouraging open conversations about online safety. Parents can control who sees the teenager’s profile photo, who can add them to a group, and who can view their Statuts. They can also manage access to Channels and set restrictions on the Meta AI assistant, choosing between a 13+ default setting or a stricter "limited content" option. All these settings are protected by a single PIN code, which the teenager needs to change any of the restrictions. Parents will receive alerts when their teenager joins or leaves a group or when a group becomes significantly larger, helping them stay informed about the teenager’s social interactions. However, these alerts do not include the content of the conversations, which remain end-to-end encrypted. This means that even with the controls enabled, messages are scrambled and can only be read by the devices involved in the conversation. No third party, including WhatsApp itself, can access the messages or calls. Parents can adjust or disable these controls at any time, and WhatsApp says it plans to introduce more features based on user feedback. Instructions for setting up the controls are available in the app's Help Center.