Now Children Under 13 Can Also Use WhatsApp: What Will Be the Impact? Experts Weigh In

Social Media Impact on Children: Children under the age of 13 can now create accounts on WhatsApp. To facilitate this, the company recently introduced a “parent-managed account” feature. This feature allows parents to link their children’s accounts to their own devices. The primary benefit of this is that parents will be able to monitor their children’s conversations. On one hand, while several countries are moving to ban social media access for children under 16, WhatsApp has, conversely, introduced this feature for younger children. What are the pros and cons of using such a feature, and how will it impact children’s psychological development?

Despite Parental Controls, Many Risks Remain

Prabir Jana, IT Manager at Macure Hospital, notes that while parental controls can help minimize exposure, the risks are not entirely eliminated due to constantly evolving technology, encrypted messaging, and “disappearing content” features. He suggests that the best approach is to talk to children directly and educate them about these potential dangers.

Detection Made Difficult Due to Encryption

Nowadays, chats on various platforms—including WhatsApp—are end-to-end encrypted. Consequently, detecting the actual content of these chats becomes difficult. This makes it hard for parents to determine exactly who their children are communicating with. Furthermore, there is an increased risk of children falling victim to scams. Children tend to trust people easily and are often unaware that legitimate applications never ask users to share verification codes. Such scams spread rapidly across platforms like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Discord. Therefore, make sure to instruct them never to share any codes with anyone.

How ​​Scammers Target Children

Prabir Jana explains that scammers and fraudsters target children through fake profiles. Initially, they may compliment someone in public groups or chat rooms, and subsequently, they begin sending direct messages. They aim to build trust and establish a friendship, eventually demanding photos and videos. Similarly, scammers may lure children with the promise of rewards in exchange for revealing OTPs, or they may impersonate a friend or influencer to extract personal information.

Methods of Protection

Always utilize Apple Family Sharing or Google Family Link. These tools offer a range of options, including app approval controls, screen time limits, and content filtering capabilities.
Create a “parent-managed account” for your children on WhatsApp. This allows you to maintain control over the messages and calls they receive.
On every app—including Snapchat and Instagram—enable “Teen-Parent Mode” and disable features such as location sharing and disappearing messages.
Always use a strong password on the device and keep screen time monitoring enabled.
The Impact of Social Media and Messaging Platforms on Children’s Minds

Nowadays, children begin using smartphones and messaging apps at a very young age. This has a significant impact on their social and emotional development. Addressing this issue, Arpita Kohli—a psychologist and counselor at PSRI Hospital—notes that messaging platforms like WhatsApp influence a child’s social and emotional growth. Excessive use of these platforms reduces a child’s opportunities for face-to-face interaction. Consequently, their ability to understand emotions, develop communication skills, and build social relationships may fail to develop properly. Therefore, parental guidance is absolutely essential when children use these platforms.

Regarding WhatsApp’s parent-managed accounts, Kohli states that this feature can help children learn how to navigate the online world safely and responsibly. Thanks to this account, children will not interact with strangers; however, if screen time is not limited, they could become entirely dependent on digital communication.

What advice is there for parents?

Offering advice to parents, Kohli stated that instead of strictly monitoring their children, parents should engage in open dialogue with them. While educating them about online safety, they should establish clear rules regarding screen time. Furthermore, they should guide their children on whom they can trust. It is also essential to explain to children why they are being monitored.

Do parental controls mitigate the risks of the digital world?

In response, experts suggest that parental controls do indeed reduce the risks of cyberbullying. Implementing parental controls on apps like WhatsApp helps create a safer digital environment. Additionally, it remains crucial to educate children about online safety. If a child begins to hide their phone or exhibits changes in their behavior, parents should recognize these as warning signs. Such signs may indicate that the child is being harassed. If changes in a child’s sleep patterns, mood, or behavior are observed following the use of social media apps, parents should engage in conversation with them to understand and address their concerns.