WhatsApp tests parental control feature with linked secondary accounts for safer use by children

New beta feature may allow parents to link and monitor secondary WhatsApp accounts with built-in restrictions, while keeping chats fully private.

WhatsApp is reportedly working on new parental control tools that could give parents more visibility and control over how younger users access the messaging platform. The development was first spotted by WABetaInfo in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.1.30, which is currently under testing.

According to the report, WhatsApp is building a system that allows parents to create and manage a “secondary account” that is linked to their main WhatsApp account. These secondary accounts are aimed at younger users and are expected to come with built-in limitations from the start.

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The parent and child accounts would be connected through a specific linking process, clearly identifying the relationship between the two profiles. Despite this connection, WhatsApp plans to maintain full end-to-end encryption, ensuring that messages and calls remain private and inaccessible to parents.

One of the key features under development is default communication restrictions. Messaging and calling on secondary accounts may be limited to saved contacts only. This would help prevent children from receiving messages or calls from unknown numbers, a restriction that WhatsApp currently does not offer as a standalone option.

In addition, WhatsApp is working on sharing limited account and activity updates from the secondary account to the parent’s primary account. These updates are not expected to include chat content. Instead, they may focus on general account activity or changes to important settings.

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The parental control tools are still being refined, and WhatsApp has not announced when the feature will be officially released. If rolled out, the system could help parents set age-appropriate boundaries while allowing children to use WhatsApp in a safer and more controlled environment.