
Last year, Google announced its plan to enable children under the age of 13 to make payments at most retail stores using Google Wallet on their personal Android devices. Now, the company has officially rolled out this feature in its latest update.
Currently, this functionality is available only in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, and Poland, with a broader rollout expected in the coming weeks.
As with previous child-friendly features, Google Wallet for children requires parental or guardian consent before a credit or debit card can be linked for use. Furthermore, each transaction made through Google Wallet is electronically logged, allowing parents or guardians to monitor purchases via email notifications. They also retain the ability to remotely unlink any associated payment cards if necessary.
Similar to the standard Google Wallet available to general users, the child-friendly version also allows children to store event tickets. However, parents and guardians maintain the authority to manage these remotely.
Apple has implemented a comparable feature within its Wallet app, equipping parents and guardians with oversight tools. Through Family Sharing, children can make purchases using Apple’s Wallet on their iPhones, while all transaction details are simultaneously relayed to parents or guardians for transparency and control.