If you’ve given your kids a recent Android phone and they’re part of a family account, you’ll soon be able to manage their money.
Your phone has changed a lot over the past decade or two. What was once a mere communication device for calls and texts has grown to become that device you depend on for everything.
It’s your camera, your music player, your game system and movie viewer and torch and passkey and even your wallet. Especially your wallet.
For families, a phone can be almost all of those things, but kids may miss out on one or two additions, specifically the wallet side of things. Kids may not have a wallet or bank account of their own, but with the world going cashless, it could be time for that to change, too.
Google is rolling out payment card access to digital wallets on Android devices set up as part of a Google Family Link account, essentially granting debit card access to kids in a family, as well as support for event and concert tickets, as well as gift cards. That will likely cover most Android phones in the country, except for budget phones under $200, and may cover some Android-based wearables, too, given payment support exists on Wear OS smartwatches.
Like with the Google Wallet for Google Pay on an adult’s Android account, the addition will mean being able to map payment cards to a child’s phone all from Google’s Family Link, but only with parental consent. However, that parent will also be able to track what money is being spent on, with an email whenever a purchase is made, plus a list of recent purchases.
It’s an addition that technically means being able to add mobile payment to the phones used by kids and teens, while boarding passes for flights can also be paired to a phone, as can supported music and sporting events. While not the first mobile payment focused on kids, Google Wallet with family support may be a little more accessible than other solutions, and technically covers more than just mobile payment, including being used as a transport ticket in Australia.
The good news is that if this is of interest, you should be able to get started shortly. The US, UK, Poland, Spain, and Australia appear to be the first places family wallet access is being rolled out, which includes Aussies keen on making their family members a member of the cashless society ASAP.
