Concerns over major change to WhatsApp happening TODAY as safety experts accuse app of being ‘negligent’

WHATSAPP has introduced lowered the the minimum age of its users for dozens of countries, including the UK and European Union.

It was previously 16 years old in some countries – but the age barrier has been dramatically reduced in a move described as “negligent” by experts.

Before today, the age of entry to WhatsApp was 13 in most countries around the worldEPA

Previously, the minimum age you can use WhatsApp was not universal across the globe.

For example, in the US, the minimum age was 13-years-old.

Whereas in the UK and countries in the European Union, it was 16-years-old.

But from today (16 February), Meta-owned WhatsApp has dropped to age 13 for all countries.

In a statement today, WhatsApp said: “We’re updating our Terms of Service and making relevant changes to our Privacy Policy to reflect that the minimum age to use WhatsApp in the UK will be changed from 16 to 13.

“This update will ensure a consistent minimum age requirement on WhatsApp globally.”

WhatsApp added: “There will be no change to the services you receive.

“As always, your personal messages and calls remain end-to-end encrypted.

“No one else, not even WhatsApp, can read or listen to them.”

The age limit in the UK and the EU used to 13-years-old up until 2018, when it was increased to 16 in response to data-protection legislation.

Before today, the age of entry to WhatsApp was 13 in most countries around the world.

It’s also the existing minimum age for many internet services around the world, including other messaging services such as Signal and Viber.

Meta’s fellow social media apps Facebook and Instagram also follow the same age limit.

However, Rani Govender, Senior Child Safety Online Policy Officer at the NSPCC, said adult offenders “hide under the veil of end-to-end encryption” in WhatsApp which can put children at risk.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has called the move to lower the user age “negligent and concerning”.

WhatsApp prides itself on its end-to-end encryption – a security feature that scrambles messages to ensure no one can view the contents.

Although it is a feature the UK government has taken aim at with its Online Safety Bill.

Govender added: “Opening WhatsApp up to even more young children before putting safety measures in place is negligent and concerning.”

In an effort to limit risk, WhatsApp doesn’t allow users to search for other users they don’t know – you need someone’s phone number to connect with them.

After receiving a message from a someone outside of the user’s contacts, WhatsApp asks them if they want to block or report the unfamiliar user.

The idea behind these features is that users have full control over who can add them to groups and their profile visibility.