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Over the years, there's been rising controversy about children having access to social media platforms. Concerns about mental health are a major part of this conversation, as are the real ramifications of predators using various apps and networking sites to contact young kids.

Some parents have worked to combat this by limiting their children's access to technology or putting various controls on their devices. Even older teenagers often have social media accounts monitored by their mothers or fathers for safety reasons.

Despite the danger that online access can pose to young kids, Meta is still allowing this demographic to use its WhatsApp platform. More specifically, 13 to 16 year olds based in Europe will now be granted access to setting up WhatsApp accounts.

There are many ways this could go wrong

British grassroots organization Smartphone Free Childhood is already raising alarm bells. In response to Meta's decision, Smartphone Free Childhood accused WhatsApp of de-prioritizing the safety of kids in the name of boosting "shareholder profits."

The organization also declared that Meta made a "tone-deaf" call that flies in the face of various specialists and experts who've documented the harm that social media can impose upon children.

WhatsApp, in particular, allows people to have direct, unmonitored conversations with people from around the world. Many adults who use this app do so to not just send texts, but also to engage in phone calls, video chats, and voice memos.

Needless to say, in the wrong hands, this can open up children to people who are knowingly preying on them or otherwise harboring ill intentions.

WhatsApp isn't planning to walk back this decision

If WhatsApp's response to the backlash is any indication, it has no plans of reversing its decision to let 13 to 16 year olds in Europe use its service.

The Meta subsidiary first told CNN that it allows users to report and block messages from "unknown numbers." In this same statement, WhatsApp reiterated that each person using its service can opt out of particular groups if they so choose.

Some people would counter this, however, by arguing that young teenagers lack the foresight to know who they should block online. All in all, many people and social organizations feel that WhatsApp is not appropriately prioritizing the welfare of children.