The Greek government recently launched a new mobile application, 'Kids Wallet,' primarily aimed at limiting children's screen time and verifying their age on digital platforms.
Technology: Technology has profoundly impacted our lives. Family members often sit together in the same room, yet engage with their mobile phones instead of interacting with each other. Addressing this concern, the Greek government has taken a novel step. Initiated by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a special mobile app for children, 'Kids Wallet,' has been launched to control children's screen time and ensure their online safety.
Purpose of the ‘Kids Wallet’ App
The Greek government introduced this app as a crucial tool for children's digital safety. Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, presenting the app in Athens, highlighted its main purpose: limiting children's screen time and protecting them from inappropriate online content. He stated, "We are providing parents with a powerful tool to keep their children safe online." This app is not only essential for verifying children's age but will also serve as a digital identity in the future.
The app aims to monitor children's digital lives, ensuring they only use age-appropriate platforms. It also tracks children's online activities, allowing parents to ensure their child is in a safe environment.
How the Kids Wallet App Works
The ‘Kids Wallet’ app is linked to Greece's government digital services platform, already used by citizens for tax payments and other government services. The app is installed on children's smartphones, and parents then create a parent-child account using their tax ID. Parents can then determine which apps or websites the child can access and for how long.
A key feature is that parents can verify their child's age and create a digital identity through documents received from their government account. Importantly, the app does not read children's private chats and messages but provides general data on screen time and online activities, helping parents monitor their children's digital habits.
App Features
- Voluntary Use: The app is not mandatory, but the government hopes for widespread adoption. Installation on children's phones requires parental consent.
- Age Limit of 15: Parental consent is required for children up to 15 years old. This ensures parental control over screen time and viewed content.
- Collaboration with Major Companies: The government has appealed to major digital companies for support to implement the app more effectively and enhance children's online safety.
Greek Government's Concerns and the Prime Minister's Response
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis supported the initiative and expressed concern about the increasing influence of the digital world on families. He stated, "Nowadays, in restaurants, the whole family is engrossed in their phones, and no one talks to each other. This is a serious problem, and we need to take steps to address it."
According to him, this initiative is a step towards keeping children safe in the digital world, providing them with necessary guidance on screen time and online platforms.
