{"id":28913,"date":"2024-04-09T17:05:59","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T17:05:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heylocate.mobi\/?p=28913"},"modified":"2024-04-10T14:17:57","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T14:17:57","slug":"whatsapp-parental-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heylocate.mobi\/whatsapp-parental-control\/","title":{"rendered":"WhatsApp Parental Control: How to Use Privacy Settings and Phone Trackers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WhatsApp privacy settings provide some parental control and allow parents to restrict certain features, such as who can contact their child or add them to a group. Nonetheless, with uncontrolled access for kids and no option for parents to monitor WhatsApp with its features, it’s imperative to find better ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"View<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We have explored the best parental control apps that can help you monitor WhatsApp<\/a> on a child’s device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Top Pick Based on Our Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd47 mSpy<\/a><\/strong> – Best for Android. This app takes screenshots of all WhatsApp interactions, allowing you to see who your child communicates with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd48 Eyezy<\/a><\/strong> – Cheapest Annual Subscription for seeing WhatsApp messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd49 uMobix<\/a><\/strong> – Best for iPhone and iPads. The app monitors a child’s WhatsApp, tracks keywords, and alerts you when they are used in conversations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What Is The Age Limit For WhatsApp?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to WhatsApp policy<\/a>, the minimum age for use is 13 years old. However, despite this age restriction, there are many kids who register WhatsApp on their devices since the app does not have a method of verifying a user’s age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Ofcom\u2019s \u201cChildren and parents: media use and attitudes report 2023<\/a>\u201d, 25% of children aged 3-4 used WhatsApp (according to their parents) compared to 54% of 8-11-year-olds and 80% of 12-17-year-olds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is WhatsApp Safe For Kids?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption, meaning no one else can view the messages within a chat. Hence, anything that’s sent within the chat is difficult to monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To this end, WhatsApp cannot be considered a safe app for kids. This is because your child is likely to encounter strangers in WhatsApp groups. Someone can target a person within a group and make it possible for cyberbullies to harass kids on the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are the Dangers of Using WhatsApp?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

17% of kids use WhatsApp worldwide, according to Pew Research<\/a>. Unmonitored use is one of the dangers of WhatsApp, since even though a parent is aware that their kid is using it, they are less likely to oversee it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, WhatsApp does not have a chat filter. It allows people to post inappropriate content, dirty jokes, and vulgar messages without risking the content being taken down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to WebPurify, children have a 12% chance of experiencing cyberbullying on WhatsApp<\/a>. Moreover, WhatsApp is likely to perpetrate cyberbullying for kids in the 12\u201313 year age group, according to Bitdefender<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the direst statistic is that sexual predators abuse WhatsApp by 37%<\/a> more than other messaging apps. Features that attract offenders to WhatsApp include end-to-end encryption, self-deleting messages, and deleting messages from both chats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

I worry about the risks of group chats on WhatsApp for my child’s safety. The lack of supervision leaves them vulnerable to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, or interactions with strangers. It’s essential for parents to monitor and guide their children’s online activities closely.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Taisiia Natarova, mother of three children<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to Set Up Parental Controls on WhatsApp<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can set up parental controls for various features on WhatsApp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Block Contacts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can prevent certain contacts from sending messages to your child’s WhatsApp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Go to your child’s WhatsApp and tap on the three dots on the top right.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Click Settings > Privacy > Blocked Contacts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Tap on the + sign with a person icon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Choose the contact you want to block from the contacts list.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    To block an unknown or a number that’s not saved:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Open the chat of the unknown number > three dots > More > Block > Block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Control Who Sees Your Child’s Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    This setting allows you to control who sees your child’s profile photo, last seen, online, about and status to Everyone, My Contacts, and Nobody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Go to WhatsApp and Open Settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Tap \u201cPrivacy\u201d and tap on the desired setting. For your child’s profile photo and status, you can manage which contacts can see their profile photo and status. When you tap \u201cMy Contacts Except,\u201d you can choose which person will not see their profile photo or status.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Disable Automatic Photo and Video Downloads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      WhatsApp settings are set such that photos and videos from regular and group chats download automatically. You can turn off this feature using these steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Go to WhatsApp settings > Chats > Media Visibility and slide the toggle off.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n