What is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is a messaging app owned by Meta. It offers end-to-end encrypted text messages, voice and video calls, group chats, status updates and file sharing. WhatsApp has over 3 billion users globally and is one of the most widely used messaging apps in Europe.
WhatsApp also offers parent-managed accounts for pre-teens, with built-in parental controls over contacts and privacy settings. Managed accounts restrict features like location sharing and disappearing messages.
Age rating: 13 (globally, including the EU/EEA and UK).
Why do kids like it?
- Group chats for everything. School, friends, sports teams, family — many activities are organised through WhatsApp groups.
- Free international communication. Messages, photos and calls work worldwide at no extra cost.
- Voice messages. Faster than typing, more personal than text — children often prefer them.
- Simple to use. Minimalist design that most people find easy to learn.
- Parents use it too. Because parents are often already on WhatsApp, it feels “approved” and safe.
What are the real risks?
- Contact from strangers. On a standard account, anyone with a child’s phone number can send a message, and group links allow anyone to join. Parent-managed accounts limit contact to saved numbers, but most teenagers use standard accounts.
- No content moderation. Because messages are end-to-end encrypted, WhatsApp cannot see or moderate content. What is shared in a chat stays between the participants.
- Cyberbullying in groups. Group chats make it easy to bully, exclude or create groups about someone without adults knowing.
- Forwarding and chain messages. Misinformation, inappropriate images and chain messages spread rapidly through forwarding.
- Screenshots and resharing. Anything sent — including private photos and messages — can be screenshotted and shared further.
- Location sharing. Live location can be shared in any chat, revealing a child’s real-time whereabouts for up to eight hours.
Settings to check
- Set privacy defaults: Settings → Privacy → set profile photo, last seen and about to “My contacts”.
- Enable two-step verification: Settings → Account → Two-step verification → turn on. Adds extra security to the account.
- Restrict group additions: Settings → Privacy → Groups → set to “My contacts” so only saved contacts can add your child to groups.
- Review live location: Settings → Privacy → Live location → check that no active location shares are running.
- Run Privacy Checkup: Settings → Privacy → Privacy Checkup — a step-by-step guide covering contact controls, personal info, chat privacy and account protection.
- Enable advanced chat privacy: Open a chat → tap the contact or group name → Advanced chat privacy → turn on. Prevents media auto-saving, chat export and Meta AI access in that chat.
- Check linked devices: Settings → Linked devices → verify that no unknown devices have access to the account.
How to talk about it
“What group chats are you in? Are there any where you don’t know everyone?”
“Have you ever been added to a group with people you don’t know? What did you do?”
“Have you received forwarded messages or images that made you uncomfortable?”
“If you send a disappearing message and someone screenshots it, is it really gone? What would you think about that?”
Last reviewed: April 2026