Major WhatsApp rule change targets millions of UK users - how it affects you
A big update has just been rolled out by WhatsApp in the UK which means millions more Android and iPhone owners can now officially access and use this popular chat app. The changes, which have just been applied to British app stores including those run by Apple and Google, mean the minimum age for downloading and signing up for a WhatsApp account has been dropped from 16 to 13.
This brings things into line with other parts of the world where 13 has been the minimum age for some time. The team at Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, say it made the change to "ensure a consistent minimum age requirement for WhatsApp globally".
Of course, there has been little to stop 13-year-olds from downloading the app in the past but now they can send messages and photos without concern that they shouldn't be using the service.
One of WhatsApp's biggest rivals, Snapchat, also has a 12+ rating and has become one of the most-used platforms for younger phone users. By dropping its rating, WhatsApp might now be hoping to attract more UK messaging fans over to its chatting service.
As well as dropping the age, there's another change coming in the future that could allow users to send messages from other services. That means someone who prefers Apple's Messages platform or Telegram could be able to ping a text to a friend who only has WhatsApp on their device. It's not yet clear when this will happen or which messaging services will be compatible.
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Other changes spotted in WhatsApp's terms include more data on what content is moderated and extra information about what is or is not allowed on the app. These changes are all due to the introduction of the EU’s Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.
Although things are being tweaked, WhatsApp says all users will still enjoy the same level of privacy.
“These updates for users in the European Region do not change our commitment to user privacy and do not expand any data sharing when messaging other WhatsApp users," a spokesperson for WhatsApp said.
"Wherever you are in the world, we protect all personal messages with end-to-end encryption, which means no one, not even WhatsApp, can read or listen to them.”
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