Uber Eats launches parent-supervised teen accounts
Summer has officially arrived, and it seems as if fast-food institutions across the length and breadth of the country are releasing a smorgasbord of delicious treats and moreish delights left, right and centre.
While Starbucks launched its sun-kissed caramelised banana range, McDonald’s announced plans to bring back the cult Cornetto McFlurry after almost two decades, and Greggs shared two new sweet items, including a dupe of a popular Gen Z drink.
If your teen has been desperate to collect World Cup Squishmallows or cash in on their free Five Guys fries, then you may be interested to know what Uber Eats has cooked up for the summer to curb their habits.
Eat For Teens launched by Uber Eats
On July 1, the delivery company announced the launch of dedicated teen accounts, allowing parents to supervise their children’s fast-food orders during the holidays.
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The initiative, known as Eats for Teens, gives families a ‘new way to manage food ordering, empowering teens to order diverse cuisines from tens of thousands of restaurant partners while offering parents and guardians visibility and control’, as per a press release.
The feature is available for teenagers aged 13 to 17. It allows parents and guardians to invite their kids to order from selected partners through an account linked to the Family profile.
Once orders are placed, the adult will receive a notification. They can also track deliveries in real time and set a monthly spending limit for their child to adhere to.
“Families have told us they want tools that help teens become more independent while still giving parents visibility and oversight,” said Merve Basci, General Manager for Uber Eats in the UK.
“Eats for Teens is designed to strike that balance. Parents remain in control of account access, spending limits and order visibility, while teens can independently order from eligible restaurant partners when they need to.”
The good news is that on your teenager’s dedicated account, adult items, such as alcohol and booze-filled desserts will be filtered out.
Energy drinks are also set to be unavailable, as per the notice.
For added peace of mind, only ‘experienced delivery people’ are eligible to deliver Eats for Teens orders. There will also be an option for the takeaway food to be left att he door.
"Autonomy and independence is really important for young people as they mature and prepare for adulthood,” said ParentZone CEO Vicki Shotbolt.
“Having tools that offer transparency for parents and involvement in any choices is one way to help teens to learn with guidance and guardrails.”
Parental ‘worries’ about takeaway ordering
The new Eats for Teens accounts come as the National Restaurant Association reported that more than half of US consumers believe that ordering delivery and takeout from restaurants is an ‘essential part of their lifestyle’, with 67 percent of Gen Z agreeing, as per the Boston Globe.
The publication stated that consumer research company Morning Consult ranked DoorDash as 2025’s fastest-growing brand.
Janeen Malinn, a parent of a 16-year-old, previously explained to the publication that she was ‘worried’ about how much her kid was spending on fast-food delivery.
“We’re constantly getting DoorDash orders at the house — $15 milkshakes, Frostys from Wendy’s, Popeyes delivered from Rhode Island, Starbucks drinks, random snacks, you name it.
“Half the time when the doorbell rings, I’m standing there saying, ‘What is it now?’ The craziest part to me is that they don’t even blink at the delivery fees.”
Other parents have claimed that due to their child’s penchant for delivery treats and takeout, they are less likely to enjoy dinner with their family.
“It’s another tension that I just didn’t anticipate,” Hai Ly told the outlet.
“Usually, you don’t need to force a teenager to eat, but there’s this new layer of access to food. I’m like: Just sit down and chat with us.”
How to curb takeaway orders
Experts at Grown and Flown, the number one site for parents of teens, college students and young adults, have detailed some tips to help children move away from ordering in.
These include encouraging leftovers, allowing them free reign in the kitchen, and keeping an eye on their bank account.
Planning meals out may also help to curb app spending, as will forgoing your own takeaway night, the site stated.
Those looking to kick the habit have also been advised by Life Coach Directory member Kanika Tandon to take note of how ordering fatty food makes them feel.
“For most of us, when the desire to buy something is intense, the after-effect of having that thing is often a bit ‘meh’,” she informed Metro.
“Do a scan of how do you feel after you have done the takeaway/eaten it. How good do you feel afterwards? Chances are you feel bloated, lethargic, worried about your depleting bank balance etc.
“Remind yourself of this end feeling every time you think of having a takeaway.”
Uber Eats introduces Cart Assistant
This month, Uber Eats also launched its new AI-powered Cart Assistant, designed to help customers build grocery baskets faster and with less effort.
“Users were telling us that they wanted a quicker way to shop, and we know how precious your time is. Cart Assistant helps you get from idea to checkout in seconds,” the brand reasoned.
To use the innovative tech, you just need to search for your favourite grocery store on the platform and hit the ‘Cart Assistant’ button.
You can type or add an image of a list, and the AI tool will add exactly what is needed into your basket. This could be a handwritten note or a recipe screenshotted from Bon Appétit.
After you’ve uploaded your image or written in your desired items, the Cart Assistant will ‘take availability into account and show store-level details like item prices and applicable promotions’, as per a notice.
The bits can be edited and swapped out as you desire. It also builds on past orders to prioritise familiar items.
Speaking about the tool, Praveen Neppalli Naga, Uber’s technology, said: “Cart Assistant reflects how we think about AI at Uber: starting with real customer needs and building practical solutions within the app.
“By grounding these features in real user behaviour, we can build tools that feel helpful and intuitive.”
Ella Scott