Meta-owned WhatsApp has announced the introduction of parent-managed WhatsApp accounts for iPhone and Android that can be set up and maintained on behalf of a child.

Specifically designed for pre-teen (under age 13) WhatsApp use, the firm said the new controls allow parents to control and limit their child’s WhatsApp experience to messaging and calling.

That means parents or guardians will be able to choose who can contact the child’s account, including which WhatsApp group chats they can join. Managers of child accounts can also view message requests from unknown contacts, and control the account’s privacy settings as they see fit.

WhatsApp said parent-managed accounts will be rolling out “over the coming months”, and said all messages sent with a managed account will be end-to-end encrypted in the same way regular WhatsApp chats are.

The firm also said it would not use information from parent-managed accounts for advertising and that the new feature meets child safety and privacy regulations.

“To begin, parents will need the phone they have bought for their family member and their own device, side by side to link their accounts,” WhatsApp said.

“The new parental controls and settings are gated by a parent PIN on the managed device. Only parents can access and change privacy settings, ensuring they are empowered to tailor their family’s experience.”

This means you can set up WhatsApp for a child so it is impossible for them to contact anyone you have not approved. This could work well if you are giving a child their first smartphone, and only wanting them to use it to text or call family members, for example.

When the new controls are available in the UK, you will see an option during initial registration to set up a parent-managed account, which will require you to enter the child’s date of birth to confirm they are under 13.

Parents and guardians will then be able to link their own existing WhatsApp account in order to control the settings of the child’s, confirming they are an adult by uploading a selfie when prompted.

Managers will even be notified if a WhatsApp group their child is in grows in size or if the disappearing message option is switched on.

Once a child with a parent-managed account turns 13, account managers will receive a notification as to when the child’s account can become a standard WhatsApp account.

“Parents will soon have the option to delay transition to a standard WhatsApp account for 12 months so they can decide on the right timeline for their teen,” WhatsApp said.

“At that time, we encourage parents to review new settings available to their teenager’s standard WhatsApp account.”