WhatsApp is one of the largest and popular online messaging services in the world. It is completely free to download and use, allowing users to send messages and more to people all over the world. The company was bought by Meta (formerly Facebook) in 2014 now has over 2 billion active monthly users.
You need a mobile phone number to use the app. WhatsApp can be downloaded on iOS & Android devices – it can also be used on desktop computers, with incoming updates that will allow users to access their account on secondary devices as well.
Age Requirement
Users must be 16+ to use WhatsApp, although many children under this age use the app frequently.
Core Functions
- Send your contacts messages, photos, and videos.
- Record and send voice notes.
- Create group chats with friends and family.
- Make voice or video calls, with group functions.
- Share documents such as PDFs or plane tickets.
- Send ‘Disappearing Messages’, which disappear after 7 days.
- Enjoy end-to-end encryption on all communication.
- Share your location ( for a predetermined period of time).
- Use the 'View Once' feature to allow a sent image/video/message to be viewed only once before disappearing. WhatsApp is currently testing a screenshot block for these messages.
- Add status updates to inform others if you are available, etc. In an upcoming update, users will be able to choose which contacts can see their online status.
Risks
- Any messaging service can facilitate interaction with strangers; once added, anyone can send images, videos, and more.
- WhatsApp group chats have become synonymous with cyberbullying, especially with admins being able to remove members.
- Children and young people may be lured into a false sense of security when using disappearing messages, prompting them to say things they wouldn’t normally, or engage in sexual image sharing.
- WhatsApp’s use of end-to-end encryption has attracted criticism for its role in making the detecting of child abuse difficult, as messages cannot be intercepted.
- Children and young people should be very careful when sharing their location via GPS, as this could allow strangers to know their exact location.
Safety Settings
WhatsApp offers the following safety and privacy features:
- Users can choose who they want to see their profile photo, personal information, and the last time they were active on the platform.
- If someone sends abusive messages or you do not wish to be contacted by them for whatever reason, they can be blocked and reported.
- Users can turn off read receipts (2 blue ticks that allow the sender know their message has been read).
- Two-Step Verification requires an additional code to access chats, making your account more secure.
Top Tips
- As with all messaging services, users should only accept messages from people they know in real life.
- Make sure children and young people in your care who use WhatsApp know that any messages can always be screenshotted and shared, even if they are ‘disappearing’ or deleted by the sender.
- Show children and young people in your care how to block and report on WhatsApp.
- Turn off GPS location data. This will ensure they are unable to share their exact location with other users.
- By turning off the read receipts, children and young people may feel less pressured to reply immediately during inappropriate times (e.g. classes, family dinners, etc.).