Social media giant Meta has recently reduced the minimum age for using WhatsApp in Europe from 16 to 13, which has led to criticism from children's rights advocates. The new age limit came into effect in the European Union on Thursday, and it was also introduced for users in the United Kingdom back in February.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta (META) for the past ten years, has updated its policies to establish a universal minimum age requirement worldwide. Despite this, the decision to lower the age limit has drawn backlash from child welfare supporters in the UK. They believe that this change could potentially increase the risks of online dangers that young individuals may encounter.
People hold up photographs and placards during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2024.
Attendees at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation in Washington, U.S. on January 31, 2024, are seen holding up photographs and placards.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
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In a statement released on Thursday, the UK-based campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood urged WhatsApp to reconsider its new policy. Co-founder Daisy Greenwell criticized the company for prioritizing shareholder profits over the safety of children.
Lowering the age limit is not a good idea, according to experts who are concerned about the negative impact of social media on children. Many professionals, including scientists, doctors, teachers, child safety experts, parents, and mental health experts, have raised alarm bells about the potential harms.
Vicky Ford, a UK lawmaker from the Conservative Party and a member of an important government education committee, criticized the decision to reduce the minimum age without consulting parents. She called it "irresponsible," as reported by PA Media.
A WhatsApp spokesperson informed CNN on Friday that users have the option to control who can add them to groups. Additionally, when receiving a message from an unknown number for the first time, users are given the option to block and report the account.
The European Commission, the EU's executive body, has not yet provided a comment in response to a request.
Meta under fire
Meta has been roundly criticized in the past for its push to lower age restrictions across platforms in the United States.
Last year, despite pressure from US lawmakers, the company announced plans to lower the minimum age for its virtual reality app from 13 to 10 years old.
CNN also revealed last year that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had personally blocked efforts to enhance the well-being of teens on Facebook and Instagram, the company's other platforms.
Zuckerberg sometimes went against his top executives who wanted more safety measures for teenagers, as shown in internal messages revealed in a lawsuit against the company.
The Meta (formerly Facebook) logo marks the entrance of their corporate headquarters in Menlo Park, California on November 09, 2022.
The Meta (formerly Facebook) logo marks the entrance of their corporate headquarters in Menlo Park, California on November 09, 2022.
Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images/File
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Instagram to crack down on teen sextortion
In a recent press release, Meta announced that it is testing new features to protect young people from the dangers of "sextortion" and "intimate image abuse." These features aim to make it harder for scammers and criminals to target and interact with teenagers.
Sextortion predators often deceive young victims by pretending to be the same age as them. They manipulate them into sending explicit photos and videos, and then threaten to share those images unless a ransom is paid.
