Greece is set to launch a new application named "Kids Wallet" that is designed to verify the ages of young users in an effort to combat online addiction among minors.

The app will utilize the Greek digital ID of a parent or guardian, which will be validated through TaxisNet, Greece's national authorisation service.

Parents will be able to access their child’s profile through the Digital ID app, allowing the system to confirm the child’s identity using information from the Greek civil registry, including their date of birth.

Furthermore, third-party applications may access the child’s age via application programming interface (API) with the appropriate parental consent.

The Kids Wallet app will serve as an age verification tool, equipping parents with options to monitor and control their children's online activities.

Parents will be able to select the applications their children may use, set time limits on usage, and block specific apps.

The Greek government has stated that the application could potentially be made available nationwide within one month while also advocating for a unified approach across the EU on child protection measures.

Online safety for minors has gained significant attention in light of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), with forthcoming guidelines aimed at enhancing protections for young users.

Although the current legislation does not explicitly mention age verification, the European Digital Identity Wallets (eIDAS) framework anticipates the implementation of such measures.

An EU-wide age verification tool is anticipated to be introduced and could establish a standard for verifying age across different platforms; however, participation will remain voluntary and the operational rollout across member states is scheduled for 2026.

In addition to Greece’s initiatives, several technology companies have taken steps to enhance protections for minors.

Meta, for example, introduced “Teen Accounts” in the EU last year, while Apple has integrated features known as “age assurance,” allowing parents to select an age range without disclosing their children's actual birth dates to third-party applications.

Both companies demonstrate divergent strategies: Meta advocates for a standardised EU regulation for age verification, whereas Apple focuses on age assurance during app rollouts.

There is a growing consensus among lawmakers and online platforms that self-declaration of age has proven inadequate for safeguarding minors against harmful and addictive content.

As such, establishing effective age verification measures is now viewed as essential in addressing these concerns.

Greece’s Kids Wallet app is part of a broader push for more stringent online protections for minors at the EU level.

Among Greece's proposals is the establishment of a “digital majority age” at 15, which would necessitate explicit parental consent for minors to use social media.

Additionally, the Greek government advocates for mandatory built-in parental control software on all internet-enabled devices sold within the EU. They are also calling for the recognition of “digital rights” for children, which would encompass protections against tracking, the ability for meaningful personalisation, awareness of their digital identity, and fairness by design in digital products.

While Greece supports the European Commission's efforts to bolster protections for minors, it argues that the existing regulatory landscape is fragmented.

The Commission is expected to place an emphasis on child protection as it develops regulations addressing issues of digital fairness, particularly concerning the risks posed by addictive designs and dark patterns targeted at minors.

Legislation aimed at enhancing digital fairness is projected to be proposed in 2026. Greece is scheduled to preside over the Council of the EU in 2027, during which negotiations on this legislation are expected to take place among co-legislators.