by Larry Magid
Google is rolling out Wallet for kids. If your child has an Android phone, you’ll soon be able to enable them to make payments and access loyalty cards and passes, such as boarding passes and event tickets.
Adults with Android phones—or even iPhones—have long been able to add debit or credit cards to their devices and make payments by holding the phone near a credit card terminal. Now, this capability is being extended to children, with built-in parental controls. These include the ability for parents to monitor recent transactions, remotely remove payment cards, and block their child’s access to the feature.
Giving a child the ability to make their own payments can be empowering, but it’s important to have regular conversations about how they’re managing money—whether it’s theirs or yours—and how to use digital payment systems responsibly.
Managing your child’s Google Wallet
Your child can’t add payment cards to their Google Wallet without your approval. You’ll need to authorize each card individually. Once a card is added, you can remove it remotely at any time using the Family Link app. Learn more about removing payment cards.
To prevent your child from adding or using passes (such as event tickets or boarding passes), open the Family Link app, go to Controls, select Wallet, and switch on Block all passes. When enabled, this will block your child from adding or accessing passes in both the Wallet app and Android settings. You can reverse this at any time by toggling it off.
Only you (and other designated family managers) can adjust these Wallet settings. You can block or unblock access to passes at any time.
This post is expanded from a CBS News Radio ConnectSafely Report segment that you can listen to here:
Listen to “Google Wallet will soon be available for kids” on Spreaker.