The Greek government revealed a strategy to protect children from internet addiction, including a new app called “Kids Wallet.” The initiative is part of a broader plan to enhance online safety for minors, announced by the Ministry of Digital Governance.
Set to launch in March 2025, the Kids Wallet app will help parents monitor their children’s internet usage. Aimed at children under 15, the app will operate through a government platform already used for digital identification services. “It’s a big change,” said Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, highlighting the app’s advanced algorithms for monitoring and strict authentication processes.
The app will have two primary functions: simplifying parental control and providing a national tool to verify user age. By the end of 2025, Greece hopes to have the app pre-installed on all smartphones sold in the country.
Beyond the app, the government’s strategy includes a dedicated website to inform parents about existing online safety features. These measures aim to combat excessive and inappropriate internet use among children, an issue increasingly concerning families worldwide.
Criticism has emerged from some digital rights and religious groups. However, government-operated digital services remain widely popular in Greece for streamlining previously slow bureaucratic processes.
Papastergiou emphasised the app’s importance in tackling age verification challenges online. “What’s the elephant in the room? Clearly, it’s how we define and verify a person’s age,” he said. The initiative, if successful, could set a new standard for internet safety in Europe.
