New Terms You Must Accept to Continue Using WhatsApp

WhatsApp’s terms and conditions are set to undergo a significant transformation. To comply with European regulations, the app, owned by Meta with Mark Zuckerberg at the helm, has updated its policies as of April 11.

Consequently, all users who wish to continue using this instant messaging service will need to accept these changes.

What’s Changing?
The WhatsApp update allows the company, which also owns Instagram and Facebook, to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). These laws call for increased transparency in how large companies manage user data.

Minimum Age Requirement
Another significant change concerns the minimum age required to use WhatsApp. Although the specifics of how the age verification process will be implemented are not yet detailed, in the EU, the minimum age will be lowered from 16 to 13.

Interoperability
The update also addresses the interoperability of platforms, allowing for the linking of messaging services for text, audio, and images (as well as other file formats) with those of other similar apps, such as Telegram. This change affects users as it ensures the encryption of these contents and permits the sending and downloading of XML files. According to various sources, the company plans to extend this capability to calls and group chats as well.

These updates are designed to ensure that WhatsApp remains a secure and compliant platform for users across the European Union, adapting to new regulatory standards that promote both transparency and user-friendly features.