To ensure a safer digital environment for children under 13, Meta is introducing advanced parental control features on WhatsApp. These updates allow parents to supervise their children’s activities, giving them control over who their children talk to and how they use the app.

Key Highlights:

• Usage Restrictions: Parents can set limits on messaging activity and call durations.
• Pin-Protected Requests: Messages from unknown numbers will be moved to a ‘Request’ folder, accessible only via a parent-held PIN.
• Group Approvals: Children cannot join any group without parental consent, and group invite links must be approved by parents.

Additionally, WhatsApp is rolling out more user-friendly updates: users will now be able to view chat history after joining a group, and the app will automatically suggest stickers based on the emojis used during conversations. These features are expected to launch in the coming months.