Santa Fe's parental control app expands to Rafaela as part of broader rollout

The municipality of Rafaela has adopted StopApuestas, a parental control application created by the Santa Fe provincial government to block minors from accessing online betting sites and other risky digital content. The announcement came during a presentation led by Santa Fe Secretary of Technologies Ignacio Tabares.

The app employs a whitelist-based system, linking a parent’s smartphone to a child’s device. By default, all access is restricted, and adults must manually authorize specific websites or applications. According to provincial officials, the tool currently supports over 400 pre-approved websites and 200 applications, with additional options for parents to build custom lists. Features include the ability to block gambling platforms, limit social media use, monitor device activity, and receive alerts when restricted content is accessed.

Tabares noted that digital environments are exposing young people to risks such as online betting, grooming, cyberbullying, and unsuitable material. He stressed that technology should serve as a complement to, not a replacement for, open communication between parents and children.

Rafaela officials indicated that the city already runs local prevention programs for problem gambling and other addictive behaviors through its Dispositivo Integral de Abordaje Territorial (DIAT), a public center offering prevention, treatment, and support for substance abuse and social vulnerabilities. They view StopApuestas as a complementary tool to those ongoing efforts.

StopApuestas was developed by Santa Fe’s Secretariat of Technologies for Management in collaboration with Lotería de Santa Fe. Governor Maximiliano Pullaro officially launched it on April 27, and the provincial government reported more than 1,000 downloads within the first 48 hours.