Google Wallet to be available for kids by 2025 with ‘Family Link’

Google Wallet for kids will be available by 2025. The upcoming version of the app will support tap-to-pay on kids’ phones, but parents will have full control via “Family Link”.

Google Wallet will work for kids by 2025

Google Wallet is one of the most convenient on-device payment platforms. It not only supports monetary transactions but also stores credit cards, IDs, passes, tickets, and a lot more.

Google has reportedly confirmed that Google Wallet for kids will be ready by 2025. Kids will be able to download and use the virtual wallet on their Android phones.

Google Wallet for kids will allow tap-to-pay transactions in stores. Children or teens won’t have access to any credit or debit cards saved in the Google Wallet ecosystem.

Google has confirmed that Google Wallet for kids will need a device PIN, password, fingerprint, or facial recognition. The app will ask for these user authentication techniques to set up and authenticate NFC payments.

How will kids use the Wallet app?

Google is limiting Google Wallet for kids. Moreover, parents or guardians will have full control over the app via the “Family Link” platform.

Parents will have to approve every credit or debit card added to their kids’ phones. Any existing payment card can be added to a kid’s Wallet. Using their Family Link app, parents can view recent transaction history. Guardians can remotely remove a card, as well as block passes.

Speaking of non-banking cards, Google Wallet for kids will also support gift cards and event tickets. However, the app won’t support IDs and health cards at the time of its launch.

Google Wallet for kids largely relies on the backend infrastructure Google developed for the Fitbit Ace LTE devices, mentioned the search giants. “Following the positive response of tap-to-pay on Fitbit Ace LTE devices, we’re expanding tap-to-pay for kids to Google Wallet. The new experience is built with safety in mind, and will allow parents to supervise their kids’ usage – including approving new cards, easily removing cards, and viewing transaction history.”

Google has further assured that this “new experience is built with safety in mind.” The company indicated that Google Wallet users in the US and several other regions will have access to the new version of the app starting next year.