Updated September 14, 2022
WhatsApp Details:
Description: Quite simply, WhatsApp is a messaging app available for most smartphone platforms using the internet connection or Wi-Fi to message, call, text, group chat, and send photos, videos, and voice messages with friends and family. Though not as popular in the United States as services like Skype or Google Chat, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging service in the world (boasting over 900 million active monthly users), thanks to huge customer bases in emerging markets like India, Brazil, Mexico, and all of Africa.
Category: Social networking
APP Store rating: 4+
What Parents Need to Know About WhatsApp:
Any Porn? There aren’t many serious risks with WhatsApp in terms of accidental exposure to inappropriate content just from casual use. Parents should still have discussions about privacy and monitor who kids are communicating with, similar to teaching a child how to use texting because it’s not difficult for someone to send your child something inappropriate.
History is Gone: Parents should note that conversations can be easily deleted. We’re big fans of BARK Parental Controls, which for iOS can monitor your child’s messages and message attachments (if available). Bark can monitor WhatsApp messages for Android and Amazon device users.
Related article: We’re Big Fans of Bark Parental Controls
Instagram and Facebook Integration: WhatsApp is owned by Facebook (as is Instagram), and a Spring 2018 update now allows videos that originated in either Facebook or Instagram that show up in WhatsApp to play directly in the WhatsApp interface without needing access to either of the originating apps.
New feature: Previously, anyone could add you to their chat group, which causes a lot of spam messages and the spread of misinformation. As of April 2019, WhatsApp lets the user decide who can add them to a chat group. A user can choose everyone, contacts only, or nobody (in this situation, the sender can decide whether to send you an invite to join the group, then you have three days to accept).
Privacy controls: Users can decide which contacts can see their profile picture, their bio, and their last seen and online status. When a user chooses to block another user from seeing this information that user will not be able to see the online status of the other user.
WhatsApp Bottom Line:
We are warm to WhatsApp based on the minimal risk factors noted above. As a first step, iMessage is a better starting point, but WhatsApp is a great second step (instead of a high-risk messaging app like Kik). But, in a consistent theme, there are just no parental controls, which requires parents to use something to monitor its activity.
Ready to monitor social media? Then it’s time for Bark.
Because the app is brand new, no one monitors it yet. But, Bark can send an alert when new apps are downloaded. Plus, they cover plenty of other apps that kids love, including texts, chat, email, YouTube, and 25+ social media platforms for signs of cyberbullying, suicidal ideation, adult content, and more.
Parents and guardians don’t have to read every message — instead, they’ll get alerts only when there’s a potential issue. Sign up today for a free, one-week trial!
*There might be affiliate links throughout this post because we’ve tested and trust a small list of parental control solutions. Our work saves you time! If you decide that you agree with us, then we may earn a small commission, which does nothing to your price. Enjoy!
