WhatsApp Is Working on Parental Controls With Limited Child Accounts

WhatsApp is working on new parental controls that could significantly change how minors use the platform. With the release of WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.3.6, new details have emerged about a feature that allows parents to create and manage secondary accounts with limited functionality for their children.

The feature is still under development and is not yet available for beta testers. However, early information suggests that WhatsApp is aiming to strike a balance between child safety, parental oversight, and its core commitment to end-to-end encryption.

What’s New in WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.26.3.6

The latest beta update, rolled out through the Google Play Beta Program, does not activate the feature yet. Instead, it reveals progress on an internal system called “primary controls for parents”.

This system would allow adults to act as primary account holders, while children use secondary accounts with restrictions designed specifically for minors. WhatsApp has been gradually refining this concept over recent beta releases, indicating that parental controls are becoming a higher priority for the platform.

How Secondary Accounts for Children Will Work

Under the proposed system, parents will be able to create a dedicated secondary WhatsApp account for their child during the setup process.

If a minor does not meet WhatsApp’s minimum age requirement, they will need a parent to initiate the account. The process involves scanning a QR code from the child’s device, linking it to the parent’s primary account.

Once paired, the parent must create a 6-digit primary PIN, which is required to finalize the setup and approve future changes. This PIN prevents children from modifying key account settings without parental consent.

Built-In Restrictions to Limit Risky Interactions

Secondary accounts are designed with default privacy restrictions that reduce exposure to unknown users.

Children will not be able to:

• Send or receive messages from numbers not saved in their contacts

• Make or receive calls from unknown accounts

These limits are meant to reduce unsolicited contact and protect minors from unwanted interactions.

What Parents Will and Won’t Be Able to See

WhatsApp is careful to emphasize that end-to-end encryption remains untouched.

Parents may receive basic activity insights, such as when a child adds a new contact. However, WhatsApp will never share message content, call logs, or chat histories with parents.

This approach allows oversight without compromising the privacy model that WhatsApp is built on.

Features Disabled on Child Accounts

To further reduce risks, child accounts will have limited access to certain WhatsApp features.

Notably:

• The Updates tab will be disabled
• Access to Channels will not be available
• Chat Lock will not be supported

Removing the Updates tab helps prevent minors from discovering or engaging with content posted by unknown users. Disabling Chat Lock also ensures parents can review a child’s device without hidden or locked conversations.

Secondary accounts are not permanent. Once a user reaches the age permitted under WhatsApp’s Terms of Service, the account can be unlinked from the parent’s primary account. At that point, the user will gain access to the full set of WhatsApp features.

WhatsApp notes that users may be required to accept updated terms, reflecting features and policies that apply to standard accounts.

Availability and What’s Next

The parental controls and secondary account feature is still under development and has not been released to beta testers yet.

WhatsApp has not shared a public timeline, but continued updates suggest the feature is actively being refined and could roll out in a future Android beta before a wider release.

As WhatsApp continues to evolve, this update signals a broader shift toward making the platform safer for younger users, without undermining the privacy protections that define the service.