WhatsApp for under 13s? New iPhone parental controls? And what makes live streaming different from posting a normal video?

In this month’s online safety update for primary school families, I take a look at WhatsApp’s parent-managed accounts, which are gradually being introduced to give younger children a more limited experience with greater parental oversight.

But does a parent-managed account make WhatsApp safe? I explain what parents can and cannot see, the risks that still remain, and why having the right conversations before your child starts using messaging apps is so important.

I also look at changes to parental controls on iPhones and iPads, including Ask to Browse, new screen time allowances and stronger communication safety features.

Finally, we talk about live streaming. Going live removes the opportunity to stop, edit or think again, and children can reveal far more about themselves, their home, school and routines than they realise.

As always, parental controls can provide a useful safety net, but they work best alongside conversations, boundaries and supervision.