The Greek government unveiled “Kids Wallet,” a state-developed mobile app

The Greek government unveiled “Kids Wallet,” a state-developed mobile app, on Monday, May 5, 2025, designed to help parents monitor their children’s screen time and verify their age on digital platforms.

Launched in Athens, the voluntary app aims to enhance online safety for minors amid growing concerns about digital overexposure.

Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou introduced the app as “a powerful tool to protect children online,” emphasizing its role in age verification for social media and as a foundation for future digital initiatives. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis endorsed the effort, lamenting the erosion of family interaction due to excessive device use: “You see families at restaurants, all glued to their phones, and wonder when they talk.”

The app, integrated with Greece’s government services platform, allows parents to create a parent-child account using their tax identification credentials. After downloading Kids Wallet on a child’s device, parents can set daily time limits, restrict access to specific apps and websites, and verify their child’s age by uploading documents via the state platform, creating a “digital identity” for the minor. Parental consent is required for children under 15.

While Kids Wallet does not access private messages, it provides insights into daily online activity and enables restrictions to promote healthy digital habits. A 2024 KMOP survey revealed that 76.6% of Greek children aged 9–12 use personal devices for internet access, 58.6% engage with social media daily, and 22.8% encounter inappropriate content, underscoring the app’s urgency.

Papastergiou called on major digital platforms to collaborate, stating, “We ask for your cooperation to protect children at a vulnerable age.” The app aligns with Greece’s efforts to combat youth crime and supports EU initiatives for stronger online protections for minors, following global trends like Australia’s recent social media age restrictions for under-16s.

Source: pagenews.gr