Google Brings Digital Wallets to Kids — Now Making Payments is Easier Via Family Link

Kids with Android phones will now be able to make use of the Google Wallet app, which allows them to buy things via Google’s tap-to-pay feature in the Google Store. 

The tech giant says in a statement to 9to5Google, that there will be measures for the parents on controlling cards, viewing and approving them along with the ways to remove cards, all while having access to the transaction history.  Along with these, they will only have the option to pay via accounts supervised by parents using the Family Link app. This will not allow them to pay using Google Pay.

Google Family Link was introduced back in 2022, which allowed parents to keep monitoring their children’s activities, screen time, and restrictions on content with the added ability to see when kids leave school and arrive home in 2022.

Payments can now be made through debit or credit cards. To make NFC payments, kids must enter their biometrics (face or fingerprint), password, or PIN. The wallet will also support event tickets and gift cards. However, private passes like health cards and ID cards aren’t supported yet. 

This move shows Google’s commitment to competing against its rival, apple. It already offers  Apple Cash Family service that allows children to use Apple Pay for purchases in stores. The Apple Cash Family not only allows money to buy things online but also lets them send and receive money through messages.

Google says that this feature has been built with privacy and security in mind, so it’s totally safe to assume that the app will be efficacious.