WhatsApp is incredibly popular with young people and is used for group chats, voice messages and video calls. Users should be at least 13 years old to use WhatsApp.
We frequently receive reports of children using WhatsApp inappropriately, such as sharing images to embarrass others, sending hurtful messages, spreading rumours, or excluding people from group chats to make them feel left out. Since WhatsApp lacks parental controls, it is important to think about whether it is really the right platform for your child. For example, you should consider if your child has the critical thinking skills to recognise bullying. Furthermore, do they understand how to manage peer pressure and refrain from joining in on hurtful behaviour?
What should I be aware of if my child is using WhatsApp?
• Group chats: Everyone within a group, even if they are not one of your child’s contacts, will be able to see all messages within that group. If your child is added to a group with someone that they have previously blocked, that person can still see their messages and send them messages within the group chat.
• Inappropriate content: users can be exposed to content that is not suitable for their age.
• Location sharing: talk to your child about the potential danger of sharing their location.
• Chat lock/secret code: users can lock chats as well as apply a secret code setting so a chat does not appear in the main chat.
• Screen time due to addictive nature
• AI: WhatsApp includes Meta AI.
What can I do?
• Check privacy settings, for example check who can add them to groups.
• Ensure your child understands that they can leave a chat at any time, Find out more here: https://faq.whatsapp.com/424124173736394
• Show your child how to block and report other users. Find out how here: https://faq.whatsapp.com/1142481766359885/
• Use parental controls such as screen time controls or do not disturb to reduce alerts.
• Talk about who they are chatting with, encourage them to think carefully about the messages they send and how they might be received by others. Talk about positivity and not saying anything hurtful. Ask them to think about whether they would say what they are messaging, face to face.
• Chat to your child about the groups that they belong to.
Further information
Find out more here:
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zc8vxg8
• https://faq.whatsapp.com/773166357950949?helpref=faq_content