Security in messenger servicesWhat are WhatsApp channels and what do parents need to be aware of?

WhatsApp has been the messenger service most used by children and young people for many years. Many parents allow their children to use WhatsApp on their cell phones to stay in touch with friends and family. The messenger is also used for communication in some schools and clubs. WhatsApp is now much more than just an app for exchanging messages with friends. Not least the new WhatsApp channels have turned the messenger into a platform that resembles a social network. We explain what WhatsApp channels are and what parents need to know to protect their children.

What are WhatsApp channels?

WhatsApp channels allow users to subscribe to messages from selected sources. Organizations, companies, influencers or even public figures can use these channels to send information, images and videos to their followers. In contrast to the WhatsApp groups or chats that have existed for some time, there is no direct interaction between the subscribers and the channel operators. This means that subscribers to a channel can only receive messages, but cannot reply to them. Only a reaction via emoji is possible. WhatsApp channels therefore offer children and young people the opportunity to easily receive updates from their favorite stars, favorite brands or about their other interests.

WhatsApp channels can be found via a search function in the app. These channels are usually operated by large companies (e.g. soccer clubs), influencers (e.g. MontanaBlack) or political actors (e.g. the German government). However, all WhatsApp users can open a channel. The channels of non-verified users are not displayed via the search function. Potential followers must join the channel via an invitation link.

What is problematic about WhatsApp channels?

Prohibited and questionable content

Parents should be aware that their children can access channels with a wide variety of content via WhatsApp. Among other things, the guidelines for channels prohibit content that is harmful to minors, such as drastic depictions of violence and pornography. However, this is no guarantee that no prohibited content will be distributed via a channel. This is because the content posted is the responsibility of the channel owner.

In addition to clearly prohibited content, there is also problematic content that does not clearly violate the protection of minors. This includes, for example, influencer advertising, problematic body and role images or anti-democratic, political content. Parents should be aware that their children can be confronted with such content via WhatsApp channels.

Links to videos or websites are posted in many channels. This directs children to other apps (e.g. YouTube) or to websites that open in the internet browser. It is also possible to display videos and audio recordings directly in the channel. This means that children do not have to leave WhatsApp to play this content. It is therefore not possible to prevent access to this content, for example by using a parental control program.

Report WhatsApp channel

If you find a WhatsApp channel that violates WhatsApp's guidelines with its content, you can report it to WhatsApp.

Operation of own channels

Parents should be aware that their child can open their own channel. This cannot be found via the public search. However, the child can send invitation links to add followers to the channel. Unlike WhatsApp groups, followers cannot see which account is posting to the channel. Unless the person identifies themselves or the channel name allows conclusions to be drawn about the person. And followers can only respond to the posts with emojis - public or private messages are not possible.

How can parents protect their children?

WhatsApp does not currently offer the option of switching off the channels function. If you allow your child to use WhatsApp, you inevitably have to accept that all WhatsApp channels are available to your child. Channels are also not divided into different age groups. Parents therefore have no way of displaying channels in the search that are only suitable for their child's age group.

There are now several parental control programs for smartphones. However, these cannot influence what content is displayed in WhatsApp. However, parents could use technical restrictions to prevent children from switching from WhatsApp to other apps (such as YouTube or a browser). To do this, parents must prevent access to the YouTube app or browser using a parental control program. Parents can find more information on parental control programs in our topic area.

Parents can also check whether there are other messengers that are more suitable for their child. In our WhatsApp topic area, we have also collected some alternatives.

If parents allow their children to use WhatsApp, they should always supervise their use. This also includes regular communication about which contacts the children have on WhatsApp, which groups they have joined and which channels they follow. You can find out how to set up WhatsApp as safely as possible in our WhatsApp topic area.

As children can also create WhatsApp groups themselves, parents should make sure that their children understand the importance of privacy and know what information does not belong on the internet. For example, they should be aware of the right to their own image and handle their own and other people's data, images and information carefully online.

Minimum age for WhatsApp: 13 years

WhatsApp writes in its guidelines for channels: "Make sure your content is appropriate for the age of all WhatsApp users." WhatsApp's minimum age is 13 for data protection reasons. It is therefore not against the guidelines to post content in channels that is not suitable for children. Parents should therefore bear in mind that WhatsApp does not consider itself to be an application for children under the age of 13 and does not prohibit or moderate content that is unsuitable for younger children.

Further information from klicksafe