WhatsApp has announced the introduction of parent-managed accounts designed to allow parents and guardians to oversee how users under the age of 13 access the messaging platform.

The accounts will allow parents to set up and supervise a child’s use of WhatsApp through their own device. To activate the feature, parents must link their own phone with the device used by the child during the setup process. Once connected, parents or guardians will be able to determine who can contact the account and which group chats the user is allowed to join, according to a recent blog by WhatsApp.

The system will also help parents to review message requests from unknown contacts and manage privacy settings associated with the account. Changes to these settings are protected by a parent-controlled personal identification number on the managed device.

According to WhatsApp, conversations on the platform would continue to be protected with end-to-end encryption, meaning that messages and calls cannot be viewed or heard by third parties, including the platform itself.

WhatsApp said the parent-managed accounts would be introduced gradually over the coming months as part of broader efforts to provide tools that allow families to manage younger users’ online communication while maintaining privacy protections.