Nowadays, everyone from children to the elderly uses WhatsApp, but the risk of mobile and personal information being hacked by clicking on unknown links or OTPs has increased. Considering these risks, WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called 'Primary Controls', which allows parents to create a limited and safe secondary account for children. This feature is specifically designed for the safe use of young children.
According to feature tracker WABetaInfo, parents will be able to set up children's secondary accounts from their own main WhatsApp account. This option will only be available for those who do not meet WhatsApp's minimum age requirement or have limited access. In this account, children will only be able to chat with saved contacts, reducing the risk of contact with strangers to almost zero.
The setup process is simple. Parents will first need to scan a QR code, then link the child's account and create a 6-digit primary PIN. Without this PIN, no important settings can be changed. Features like the updates tab, channels, broadcasts, and chat lock will not be available in the secondary account, ensuring controlled usage.
Importantly, the complete privacy of children's messages and calls will be maintained. Due to end-to-end encryption, parents will not be able to read chats directly, but they will be informed if a new contact is added or if there is a change in the account. This feature will soon be available in the stable version of the app, allowing parents to have control over their children's digital security.