The Greek government has launched a new mobile app 'Kids Wallet', which aims to limit children's screen time and verify their age on digital platforms. This government initiative was introduced by Greece's Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou in Athens.

What is the purpose of the app?

Minister Papastergiou said, "We are giving parents a powerful tool to keep their children safe online." He further said that this app is not only necessary to verify the age of children on social media, but will also serve as a digital identity tool in future government initiatives.

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also supported this initiative and expressed concern about the impact of technology on family life. He said, "Nowadays the whole family is on their phones in restaurants, and no one even talks to each other."

How does the app work?

The Kids Wallet app is connected to Greece's government digital services platform, which citizens already use to pay taxes and for other government work. After installing the app on the child's phone, parents create a parent-child account by logging in with their tax ID. They then decide which apps and websites the child can use and for how long. Parents create a digital identity by verifying the child's age through documents received from their government account. This app does not read children's messages but gives general information about screen time and online activity.

Special features of the app
Voluntary use: Use of the app is not mandatory, but it is expected to be widely adopted.
Age limit up to 15 years: Parental consent is required till the age of 15.
Appeal for cooperation: The government has appealed to big digital companies to support the app.

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