Ensuring WhatsApp Safety Through Effective Parental Control Measures

 Many parents have allowed their kids to use WhatsApp so they can interact with their friends and have a group chat with them. 

However, if you are thinking the same, it’s vital you first be aware of the risks included here and how you can prevent them all to ensure your kids’s safety.


With the help of Parental Control, you can follow up on some effective measures that will secure your kids from every potential attack. 


To know how to implement this setting on WhatsApp, you can delve into this post and learn all about it. 

 

Why Are Parental Controls on WhatsApp Needed?


WhatsApp is an excellent tool for effective communication and collaboration, but also has some negative impacts, especially on young teens. 


Due to its addictive nature, kids often stay distracted from other essential activities including studies. 


The constant use of this application makes them lazy as they stick to one place only. 


In addition, it also harms their mental health due to excessive screen time. 


And the main concern arises about their online privacy and security such as what type of group they have been added to, and with what type of contacts, they do chat. 


To address these troubles with one solution, WhatsApp came up with a setting called Parental Control that guarantees the security of your kid along with limiting their screen timing.  



How to Set Up WhatsApp Parental Control?


With a few changes in the settings of Whatsapp, you can easily set up the Whatsapp Parental Control mode to safeguard your kids from online harm. 


  1. Manage Privacy Settings

Choosing and managing privacy settings is important to make this messaging app a comfortable room for teens to navigate. 


You can do it in this way:


  • Open the Whatsapp app your child has been using.

  • Tap on the three-dot icon present at the top right corner.

  • Now, tap on the menu Settings, and then tap on Privacy.

  • On the screen, you’ll see options including Last seen and online, Profile photo, About, and Status.

  • Go to each option one by one and change them all to Nobody


In this way, you can select who can see the personal information of your kids or who can’t. 


  1. Block Unwanted Contacts 

Blocking someone means you no longer receive messages or calls from that user. So, if you observe any contact that is constantly bugging and calling your kids, you can instantly use this feature. 


To Block the contact:


  • Open the chat room of the unwanted contact and tap on the three-dot icon at the top right corner.

  • From the drop-down option, tap on More.

  • Lastly, tap the option Block to break the link from that user. 


If you observe that the contact is making your kids uncomfortable in using WhatsApp, encourage them to simply block or report them.


  1. Report a Contact or a Message

You can also report the contact if you think they are sending problematic content or trying to spam you. 


In doing this, WhatsApp will receive the last five messages sent to you by the reported user or group. 


Ahead, they will review the content of your status and take appropriate action if necessary.


To do so:


  • Open the chat room of the unwanted contact and tap on their name.

  • Scroll down to the option Report and Hit on it to report the user. 


The company may not take any actions if there’s no violation of the terms and agreement. 


  1. Disable Live Location


Sharing the Whatsapp Live Location with parents is fine but sharing it in the group chat or with a stranger can pose a potential threat. 


Follow the steps to turn off the location from your Kids’ Android Phone:


  • On the Android device, go to Settings >> Apps >> App Management >> WhatsApp >> Permissions >> Location >> Don’t Allow


And, in iPhone:


  • Open Settings >> Whatsapp >> Location >> Never


The live location has been successfully turned off and it’s better to stay turned off only. 


  1. Change Group Settings


If your kids are receiving unwanted invitations to join group chats from random people on WhatsApp, you can take the following steps to prevent this:


  • Go to the menu Settings.

  • Tap on the option Privacy.

  • Now navigate to the group and select the option out of - everyone, my contacts, or my contact except.


By adjusting these settings, you have now more control over who can add or who can not add you to the Whatsapp group. 


  1. Turn Off Auto-Downloads

You can set off Whatsapp to automatically download photos, audio, videos, and documents when using mobile data, Wi-Fi, and roaming. 


The option can be turned on depending on the preferences. 


You can do it in this way:


  • Go to Settings, and tap on Chats

  • Now, turn off the toggle next to Media Visibility


Here you are all done with the changes, and now you can be worry-free about your kids' safety in Whatsapp. 


Conclusion 


WhatsApp is indeed a great platform, but as a parent, it’s your responsibility to ensure the safety and security of kids while they are exploring this messaging app. 


With the above-given measures and with major changes in Whatsapp privacy settings, you can restrict who can chat with your child, and who can see the location. 


This is an effective way to promote kids’s internet safety and risk management.



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