Whatsapp is a free, cross-platform messaging service owned by Facebook. Like so many providers WhatsApp now asks its users to confirm their age, but uniquely, WhatsApp raised its minimum age rating earlier this year from 13 to 16. This means that the number of those affected by this change is significantly higher (i.e. anyone under the age of 16).
So what? I hear you ask…it’s easy just to agree.
Indeed it is, however it is clear that this is a deliberation for many parents. Some in our sessions were unaware of a minimum age at all. Some wondered why there was a minimum age. Others asked why the change, is Whatsapp safe? And of course there were some that were not so bothered.
A further dimension emerged, when it turned out the school used GB WhatsApp as a way of communicating with children.
My advice on this would be that any school (indeed any group or organisation) that uses WhatsApp to communicate with children might want to review their policy.
So what? I hear you ask…it’s easy just to agree.
Indeed it is, however it is clear that this is a deliberation for many parents. Some in our sessions were unaware of a minimum age at all. Some wondered why there was a minimum age. Others asked why the change, is Whatsapp safe? And of course there were some that were not so bothered.
A further dimension emerged, when it turned out the school used GB WhatsApp as a way of communicating with children.
My advice on this would be that any school (indeed any group or organisation) that uses WhatsApp to communicate with children might want to review their policy.
