Should They Play?The parents' guide to apps and games

Should I let my child use WhatsApp?

18+

No

Not for under-18s right now. Meta, which owns WhatsApp, lost a US case over the sexual exploitation of children and is appealing.

WhatsApp is now adding real parental controls: accounts that parents manage for younger children, and settings for 13 to 17-year-olds that only a parent can loosen with a PIN. But they're still rolling out and may not be available where you live yet. Without them, anyone who has your child's number can message them, and big group chats can add strangers. Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, was found by a New Mexico jury in 2026 to have hidden what it knew about the sexual exploitation of children on its apps. Meta is appealing, so the case is still open, and under our rules that's a no. If your child already uses WhatsApp, the steps below reduce the risks.

WhatsApp fails 3 of our 7 safety checks. See how we decided, and the official age ratings

Last checked . WhatsApp is made by Meta and runs on iPhone & iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, Web.

What is WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is a messaging app for texts, voice notes, photos and calls, often used for class and friend group chats. It also has Status updates, Channels that follow celebrities and brands, and an AI chatbot. WhatsApp's minimum age in the UK is 13.

Our advice by age

Under 14
NoWhatsApp's minimum age is 13, and Common Sense Media recommends it from 14. Parent-managed accounts for younger children are rolling out, but Meta's case is still open.
14 to 17
NoOur answer is still no while Meta's case is open. If your teenager already uses WhatsApp, set up every step below, especially the controls on who can add them to groups.

What to watch out for

  • Contact from strangersRisk is high by default, medium with controls on

    Anyone with your child's number can message them, and large group chats bring in people they don't know. WhatsApp's new parental controls let you choose who can add your child to groups and review messages from unknown numbers, where they're available.

  • Harmful content in group chatsRisk is high by default, medium with controls on

    Videos and images shared in big groups, including violent or sexual content, aren't checked by anyone, because messages are encrypted. Children can also be bullied or left out in class groups.

  • Disappearing messagesRisk is medium by default, medium with controls on

    Chats can be set to delete themselves, and photos can be set to view once, which makes it hard to see what happened.

  • SpendingRisk is low by default, low with controls on

    There's very little to buy. Purchase approval on your child's phone stops surprise bills.

What's good about it

  • Messages and calls are private and encrypted
  • Parent-managed accounts and PIN-locked teen controls are rolling out
  • Unknown numbers get a warning, with the option to block or report
  • Easy way to keep in touch with family

If your child already uses it

If your child already uses WhatsApp, these steps make it much safer. Takes about ten minutes. Do it with your child so they know what's switched on and why.

  1. Turn on WhatsApp's parental controls

    Set up a parent-managed account for a younger child, or teen controls for 13 to 17-year-olds, linked to your own WhatsApp and locked with your PIN. If they aren't available yet, check again each month.

  2. Limit who can add them to groups

    In Settings, Privacy, Groups, choose My contacts, so strangers can't add your child to a group.

  3. Hide their profile photo and details

    In Settings, Privacy, set Last seen, Profile photo, About and Status to My contacts.

  4. Talk about group chats

    Agree they'll leave any group with people they don't know, and show you anything that upsets them. Remind them that anything they send can be screenshotted.

  5. Turn on purchase approval

    Use Ask to Buy on Apple, or purchase approval on Google Play.

Recent news

  1. WhatsApp adds new parental controls for teen accountsTechCrunch

    Parents can now control who adds their teen to groups and get alerts when they join big groups, with settings locked by a parent PIN.

  2. New Mexico court orders Meta to pay $567 million over mental health harms to kids onlinePBS NewsHour

    On top of March's jury verdict, a judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million more. Meta says it will appeal.

  3. US jury orders Meta to pay $375m for endangering childrenAl Jazeera

    A New Mexico jury found Meta misled the public about the risks of child sexual exploitation on its apps.

  4. WhatsApp is launching parent-linked accounts for pre-teensTechCrunch

    Parents can set up a WhatsApp account for a younger child that only messages saved contacts, with settings only a parent can change.

Common questions

What age is WhatsApp suitable for?

Right now we don't recommend it for under-18s. WhatsApp's minimum age in the UK is 13, and Common Sense Media says 14+, but Meta, which owns WhatsApp, is appealing a verdict over the sexual exploitation of children on its apps.

Is WhatsApp safe for an 11-year-old?

No. WhatsApp's minimum age is 13. Parent-managed accounts for younger children are rolling out, but Meta's case is still open, so our answer is no.

My child's class has a WhatsApp group. What should I do?

That's very common, and hard to say no to. If they use it, set who can add them to groups to My contacts, and agree they'll show you anything unkind or upsetting. Some families share a parent's phone for the class group instead.

Can strangers message my child on WhatsApp?

Yes, if they have your child's number. WhatsApp warns about unknown numbers, and its new parental controls let you review those messages, but they're not available everywhere yet. Strangers can also reach your child through large groups.

All my child's friends use it. What should I do?

That's hard when friends make plans on it. We'd still say no for now, but explain why rather than just saying it: talk about strangers in big groups and what to do if something upsets them. If your child already uses WhatsApp, turn on the parental controls when you can, and limit who can add them to groups.

What would change your verdict?

Meta's case over the exploitation of children ending well, and WhatsApp's parental controls being available everywhere. Even then, because messages aren't checked, the best possible answer would be 'only with conditions'.