What Is WhatsApp? A WhatsApp Review for Parents

Harmful Content 😲

The dangers of WhatsApp are what you’d expect with any messaging app. Bullying — including taunting, excluding, and even aggressive threats — can happen in group chats or one-on-one messages. Inappropriate content can be shared in the form of text, photos, images, videos, and links from across the web. WhatsApp also has a built-in GIF database that may include images that definitely aren’t G-rated. Users can also broadcast their location to contacts, accurate down to mere meters. This feature is similar to dropping a pin in Google or Apple Maps. 

One feature WhatsApp has that a regular texting platform doesn’t is disappearing messages. This makes it more like Snapchat, unfortunately. Kids often see disappearing messages as a way to “safely” send risky content — but nothing could be further from the truth. 

WhatsApp also has a feature called Channels, which is reminiscent of Snapchat’s Discover page. It’s a “one-way broadcast” for users to share content with followers. Technically anyone can make a channel, but it seems to be utilized most by companies, publications, and celebrities to share information with their WhatsApp audience. This is yet another way kids could encounter inappropriate content, depending on who they follow.

Predation 🚨

Users need someone’s phone number to be able to message them. Because of this, the odds of someone randomly messaging your child on WhatsApp are lower than on other platforms like Instagram or Snapchat. One way it may get tricky, however, would be if your child gets added to a huge group chat where they don’t know everyone. If someone sketchy is in the group, they’d have the ability to DM your child. Plus, a predator can always contact a child on social media, then prompt them to move the conversation to WhatsApp by exchanging numbers.

Privacy 🔒

WhatsApp works similarly to a phone — you can add new contacts by entering their phone number (or let WhatsApp auto-populate your app contacts from your phone contacts). 

If a contact doesn’t have WhatsApp, you have the option to invite them to join. Because this process is so straightforward (there are no made-up usernames like on Instagram or TikTok), there’s not a ton of privacy when it comes to how you’re presented to the outside world. 

In addition, you can also choose to share your live location on WhatsApp with contacts, which could definitely present a danger.

From a technical standpoint, on the other hand, WhatsApp is aggressively encrypted end-to-end, making it a very safe way to communicate private information. 

Parental Controls ✅

WhatsApp doesn’t have any parental controls, though you can block users who may be harassing your child. You can also disable live location sharing, but this feature isn’t passcode-protected so it’s possible for your kid to turn it back on again immediately. For detailed instructions on how to block users and disable location sharing, check out our WhatsApp tech guide. 

Bark also provides help for families who use WhatsApp. We’re here to help you keep your kid safe by allowing you to:

• Block WhatsApp entirely, if needed.
• Manage when your child can use WhatsApp throughout the day.
• Monitor chat messages on Android and iOS devices, as well as the web-browser version.

So, should my kid download it?

If you let your kids text, then sure. What is WhatsApp but another texting platform? If you’re worried about it, you can use Bark to both monitor your child’s messages for dangers and set screen time limits for how they use it.