Age guide
What age is WhatsApp ok for?
WhatsApp’s minimum age is 13. It’s mostly messaging and has no native parental controls, so it suits teens who can manage contacts — limit last-seen and profile photo to contacts, and mind that group members see the phone number.
Minimum age
WhatsApp’s stated minimum age is 13.
Why age matters here
- Minimum age is 13 — below that the app isn’t designed for the user.
- WhatsApp has no native parental controls; safety depends on contacts and group settings.
- Group members can see your child's phone number.
If they do use WhatsApp — set these
- Limit who can send direct messages to existing contacts only.
- Turn off precise location sharing and location tags in posts.
- Turn off account suggestions and find-by-phone/email so strangers can't discover the account.
- Remove full name, school, age and identifiable photos from the public profile.
- Turn off activity status and read receipts.
Check your child’s actual setup
Run the free scanner for a setup score on WhatsApp and the exact settings to change.