The Greek government is poised to implement sweeping regulations to safeguard children and teenagers from the pitfalls of social media, announcing its comprehensive plan today.
This initiative aims to bolster parental controls and mitigate the psychological and social risks tied to excessive social media use, responding to increasing alarm over its impact on youth. According to Dr. Theodora Psaltopoulou, professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, over 90% of teenagers engage with social media platforms, with research from the World Health Organization indicating a concerning rise in problematic social media use among adolescents across Europe.
Dr. Psaltopoulou pointed out the numerous dangers young users face, including addiction, exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and disruptions to their educational and family lives. "Parental involvement is key to tackling these issues. Families can set clear boundaries for social media use, utilize technology to monitor online activity, and educate teenagers about online safety," she said.
The government’s measures are set to align with WHO recommendations, which advocate for integrating digital literacy programs within school curricula, enhancing mental health services, and ensuring social media platforms bear responsibility for protecting their young users.
This initiative marks what many hope will be a pivotal moment in addressing the mounting concerns surrounding the influence of digital technology on youth, emphasizing collaborative efforts among parents, educators, health professionals, and policymakers to promote responsible social media use.
Coinciding with these developments, Greece's Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, announced plans to restrict internet access for minors. Scheduled for December 30, these measures will simultaneously tackle rising incidents of youth violence increasingly linked to social media. Incidents of cyberbullying and dangerous social media challenges, such as the “Superman challenge” on TikTok, which resulted in severe injuries, have amplified calls for action.
Greece's proposed strategy will be rolled out through three main pillars: enhanced parental controls, improved age verification processes, and new legislation. A new website, parco.gov.gr, will empower parents by providing them with tools to activate pre-installed parental controls on their children’s mobile devices. This site is part of the parental controls effort, which aims to facilitate responsible digital habits during formative years.
To tackle the perennial issue of age verification, Greece plans to introduce "kids wallets," mechanisms aimed at ensuring appropriate digital engagement based on age. This initiative will set specific rules and applications, ensuring minimal exposure to harmful content.
Legislative measures are also on the agenda. The government will collaborate with technology companies to enforce broader safety standards across the European Union, helping to cultivate a safer online environment for minors.
Globally, nations are adopting similar initiatives to protect young people online. For example, the European Union mandates parental consent for processing children’s personal data for those under 16 years. Meanwhile, Spain has proposed health warning labels on devices and suggested raising the minimum age for social media accounts from 14 to 16.
Across the English Channel, the UK is weighing its options, recently conducting studies focused on the impact of social media and smartphones on youth. Norway is also contemplating raising the minimum age for minors to consent to social media from 13 to 15, reinforcing the notion of stricter regulations.
Meanwhile, France has taken actions this year, passing laws to require parental consent for those under 15 to use social media, and President Emmanuel Macron proposed banning smartphones for children under 11.
Germany's regulations dictate minors aged 13 to 16 can only access social media platforms with parental consent, and Belgium requires the same for children under 13. Significant strides are being made as well; the Netherlands has banned mobile devices from classrooms, save for educational needs, and Italy mandates similar parental consent requirements for social media accounts.
Australia has also recently raised the minimum age for social media registration from 13 to 16, imposing heavy penalties on companies failing to comply.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the United States is grappling with age-verification laws, with several states enacting measures. Utah became the first state to implement such laws, though it now faces challenges and legal obstacles.
These international movements signify a collective recognition of the potential dangers associated with social media use among minors, and Greece's forthcoming measures reflect its commitment to becoming part of this global dialogue.
Through these planned initiatives, Greece aims not only to protect its youth but also to establish itself as a leader among nations taking serious steps toward safeguarding children from the risks of social media.