Move to shield kids from online dangers

Greece
Wed, 18 Dec 2024 7:36 GMT
Plan tackles digital age verification, harmful content with a European-wide call to action.
Move to shield kids from online dangers

In a move to curb the growing risks associated with social media access for children, the government is rolling out a multi-pronged strategy to protect minors under the age of 15. 

Amid concerns about harmful online content, the government has unveiled plans to introduce three key initiatives aimed at improving digital safety for young users.

The first measure is the launch of a dedicated website, parco.gov.gr, which will serve as a resource hub for parents.

This platform will guide parents through the parental control tools available on most mobile devices, providing clear and easy-to-follow instructions for activating key safety features. The site will help parents set screen time limits, block inappropriate content, report unsuitable applications, prevent app access, and impose age restrictions – steps that many devices already offer but are often underutilized.

The second strategy involves the introduction of Kids Wallet, an age-verification application set to launch in spring. This app will be linked to the national citizen registry, enabling secure and accurate verification of minors’ ages. Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou emphasized that this system, unlike other methods, will be much harder for minors to bypass, making it a more reliable solution for preventing underage users from accessing platforms unsafely.

The third and most ambitious plan is Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ call for a coordinated European Union initiative to push major social media platforms to implement stricter measures against harmful content. Recognizing that national efforts alone are insufficient to tackle the growing problem, Mitsotakis intends to take this issue to Brussels, urging EU-wide action to limit minors’ exposure to violent or inappropriate online material.

Additionally, the government has been actively engaging with YouTube, pushing for tighter enforcement of its content policies, particularly concerning videos that may encourage criminal behavior or promote hate speech. A letter sent recently by the Ministry of Digital Governance called on YouTube to better monitor and restrict content that contributes to antisocial behavior among youth.

With its initiatives, the government aims to lead the way in creating a safer digital environment for children, while addressing public concerns about the negative effects of social media exposure on young people. A press conference on December 30 will outline the full strategy. 

Kathimerini

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