Three out of four primary schoolchildren in Greece already maintain social media profiles, raising alarms among experts about early exposure to harmful content.
The country also records the highest rate in Europe of excessive internet use among children, at 34%. Specialists urge parents to enforce strict limits, warning that children under 15 lack the maturity to navigate digital risks, including harassment.
“Understand how new parental control tools work,” experts advise. “And when children pressure you, respond: ‘This is illegal; I cannot allow it.’”
New measures are underway. A European age-verification application, announced this week, aims to strengthen protections for minors online. Linked with Greece’s “Kids Wallet,” it will confirm users’ ages without revealing personal data, using secure authentication methods.
Yet concerns persist. Reports of cyberbullying rose 117% in 2025, while excessive internet use remains the leading cause of helpline calls. Experts question whether platforms will comply, noting past failures to enforce regulations. Ultimately, they stress, responsibility begins at home, where habits – and boundaries – are first formed.