Greece Launches National Strategy to Safeguard Minors Online

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting at the Maximos Mansion to discuss the country’s National Strategy for the Protection of Minors from Internet Addiction.

This comprehensive plan, set to be officially presented on December 30, aims to address growing concerns about children’s excessive use of social media and the internet.

The meeting emphasised the crucial role of parental education and involvement in mitigating the harmful effects of online overexposure among minors. Key decisions regarding the implementation of the strategy were also finalised during the session.

Three-Phase Implementation Plan

The National Strategy will roll out in three stages:

1. Parental Control Platform: An advanced platform will be launched immediately to give parents tools to monitor and regulate their children's online activity.
2. Kids Wallet System: Within three months, a "kids wallet" system will be introduced. This innovative tool will include built-in applications and rules for automatic age authentication to ensure appropriate online access.
3. Legislative and International Cooperation: Greece will introduce legislative measures in collaboration with European partners and major tech companies. These efforts aim to regulate online content and enhance protections for minors. Additionally, a dedicated website, parco.gov.gr, will provide parents with clear instructions on how to use pre-installed parental controls on mobile devices.

A New Era of Digital Adulthood

Prime Minister Mitsotakis highlighted the need to define an age for "digital adulthood," tentatively set at 15 years. He stressed that tailored policies would address the needs of both younger and older children.

"Our children are growing up in a simulated world," said Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou. "As a government, we must stand by parents. The real issue here is internet addiction, and we must tackle it with decisive action."

This initiative marks Greece's commitment to creating a safer digital environment for its youth, ensuring they grow up with healthier relationships to technology. The measures reflect a growing global trend to address the challenges posed by the digital age while safeguarding the well-being of future generations.