What Parents Need to Know: Is WhatsApp Safe for Children?

With nearly 3 billion active users globally as of June 2024, WhatsApp is the world's most popular messaging app. You probably use it yourself, but should you let your children use it, too? And, if so, from what age is it really safe?

Read on to learn the risks children face on WhatsApp and get practical tips on securing their accounts from hackers, scammers, and other threats.

Why is WhatsApp so popular with children?

WhatsApp's popularity with kids continues to grow, mainly because it's easy to use, feature-rich, and offers free messaging. Here's what makes it so attractive:

• User-friendly: Kids can easily send text, videos, photos, and voice messages, or make video calls with no message limits or fees, allowing them to communicate as much as they want.
• Group chats: WhatsApp allows group chats for up to 1,024 participants. While kids might not be in such large groups, they often join school or social groups with many people—people that parents might not even be aware of.
• Fun features and hacks: With a simple search on Google or TikTok, children can discover a lot of new tricks to make the app even more fun. For example, they can type text upside down, schedule messages, create fake conversations, change the wallpaper in chats, and convert any picture into a WhatsApp sticker. Some of these tricks are harmless, but others can expose children to dangers or compromise their digital privacy. For instance, they might share with strangers their real-time location or their QR code for their WhatsApp profile.  
• Voice and video calls: Children often prefer making phone calls over texting because it's easier and faster for them. But because calls are secured with end-to-end encryption, parents can't see or hear who their kids are talking to.
• AI Assistant: WhatsApp's AI chatbot has the capability to create text and images based on simple prompts, which could be both entertaining and concerning for younger users.

What are the Dangers of WhatsApp for Kids?

WhatsApp poses certain risks for children, especially if left unsupervised.

Lack of parental controls: WhatsApp doesn't have built-in parental controls, making it difficult for parents to monitor conversations or step in when needed. Some kids use WhatsApp precisely for this reason—knowing their parents are less likely to oversee it.

Inappropriate content. Without chat filters, users can send any kind of media. Features like "View Once" messages allow photos or videos to be viewed only once before disappearing. This makes it nearly impossible to know, report or save evidence if your child is exposed to harmful content. Additionally, the "Disappearing messages" feature allows messages to be deleted automatically after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. While parents can disable it, kids can easily turn it back on when unsupervised.

Some children may send risky or intimate content, thinking it will disappear permanently—without realizing someone could still take a screenshot.

Strangers and scammers. Group members are able to copy and share chat links, which allows anyone to join without being vetted. This means that strangers with malicious intentions and scammers can gain access to private groups, start private conversations, or invite group members to join other groups. Additionally, children who join random public group chats online are at risk of being contacted by strangers.

Cyberbullying. Group messaging can make it easy for individuals to cyberbully others by targeting them within the group or by spreading inappropriate images and rumors. For instance, a bully might post someone's WhatsApp number online, leading to the victim receiving numerous hurtful messages from unknown individuals. Another particularly harmful form of cyberbullying is "doxing," where the bully publicly shares the victim's personal information in a way that is intended to cause harm or embarrassment.

Addictiveness. Parents also have to consider that chatting and sending emojis and gifs can be addictive, and their children may end up spending too much time on their phones.

Location sharing: Kids can share their live location with contacts, but this feature becomes dangerous if shared with anyone outside a trusted circle.

How to set up your child's WhatsApp account for maximum privacy and safety

Parents can take proactive steps to ensure their child's WhatsApp account is as secure as possible. Here's how:

1. Set profile privacy:
   • Go to Settings > Privacy.
   • For Profile Photo, Last Seen, About, and Status, set each to My Contacts so only known individuals can see this information.
2. Disable live location sharing:
   • Go to Settings > Privacy > Live Location.
   • Ensure Live Location is off or restricted to close family members.
3. Turn off "View Once" messages:
   • Advise your child not to use this feature as it makes reporting inappropriate content harder.
   • Check if your child receives media this way and remind them not to engage with it.
4. Control disappearing messages:
   • Go to the specific chat where disappearing messages are used, tap the chat name, and select Off under Disappearing Messages.
   • Explain to your child why it's important to keep records of conversations, especially in group chats.

5.      Block and report suspicious contacts:

Tell your child to immediately block and report any messages from unknown numbers or if someone makes them uncomfortable.

To block a contact, go to Settings > Privacy > Blocked Contacts > Add New.

6.      Manage group invitations:

Go to Settings-> Privacy>  Groups. By default, this is set to "Everyone," meaning anyone who has your child's number number can add them to a group. You have three other options to limit this: My Contacts, My Contacts Except (exclude specific contacts from adding you to groups), and Nobody.

7.     Silence Spam Calls on WhatsApp

Go to Settings > Privacy > Calls. Turn on the option to Silence unknown callers.

How to Talk to Your Child About Staying Safe on WhatsApp

Here are some tips for ensuring safety while using the app:

1. Advise children to only share their phone number with people they know well.

2. Warn them not to send photos of themselves to groups and to leave any group that makes them feel uncomfortable.

3. Encourage them to report spam and block strangers who message them.

4. Make sure they turn off "location tagging" to prevent sharing their location with images and videos.

5. Tell them to avoid clicking on suspicious links or responding to messages from unknown senders.

6. Discuss common scams, such as receiving links from strangers or offers that seem too good to be true. Encourage them to delete these messages without opening them and report them as spam.

Is WhatsApp Safe for Kids?

Meta requires users to be 13 or older to use the app, lowered from 16 in 2024.

While it can be a great tool to stay connected with friends and family, it's important for parents to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect their children's privacy and security.

Always keep an eye on how your child uses WhatsApp and guide them to make smart, safe choices online.

With Bitdefender Parental Control, you can easily manage and monitor their digital activities. From setting time limits and filtering content to tracking their location and viewing activity reports, it’s a great way to create a safer, more balanced digital experience.

FAQs

1. When can children use WhatsApp?

WhatsApp's official minimum age requirement is 13 years old, though this age limit varies by country. However, the app does not have an age verification process, so younger children may still access it. It's essential for parents to decide when their child is mature enough to handle the potential risks of using WhatsApp, especially regarding privacy, safety, and online interactions.

2. Can WhatsApp be monitored by parents?

WhatsApp does not offer built-in parental controls or monitoring features. All messages, voice, and video calls are encrypted, meaning parents cannot easily view their child's conversations. To monitor their child's activity, parents need to rely on privacy settings, educate their children about safe online behavior, and encourage open communication about any concerning experiences on the app.

3. Are there any dangers for children using WhatsApp?

Yes, there are several risks associated with WhatsApp for children. These include exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, interactions with strangers, and scams. Features like disappearing messages and "View Once" media can make it difficult for parents to monitor conversations. Additionally, children may overshare personal information or be added to group chats with unknown members, increasing their vulnerability to online threats. Parents should take steps to set up privacy features and guide their children on how to use the app safely.