United Kingdom, Oct. 1 -- WhatsApp is introducing new parental controls to allow parents to place tighter restrictions on their teenagers' accounts - while keeping their children's private messages and calls out of reach.

The Meta-owned messaging service said the optional controls will allow parents to manage privacy settings, receive notifications when their teenager joins or leaves a group and control who can see their child's profile picture.

The changes come amid mounting pressure on technology companies over children's online safety and months before sweeping new UK restrictions on social media are expected to take effect.

WhatsApp said in a statement: "All of these controls are being designed to support open conversations about h...