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ER Editor: Is the European Commission actually doing something right?
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Greece to become first EU country to ban social media access for minors under 16
If the EU can enact measures to curb social media use among teens without violating privacy concerns for adult users, it will be a major win for the European project
REMIX NEWS
Following a trend toward stricter regulations on digital platforms, Greece is set to become the first European Union member state to ban social media access for minors under the age of 16 starting in late October.
The move comes as political pressure mounts elsewhere, including in Germany, where the CDU/CSU party alliance is considering raising the social media age limit to 16.
The German proposals would prevent those under the designated age limit from accessing platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Researchers are already drawing serious parallels, with some “comparing TikTok to heroin.”
Other countries, such as Australia, have instituted similar bans, but through the use of identity checks that many organizations have called an invasion of privacy.
In Greece, the measure will be enforced through a mobile application called “Kids Wallet”. This technology will automatically block the use of popular platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X on devices registered to underage users.
The Greek option appears to alleviate some of these privacy concerns, as it only affects devices registered to underage users. Therefore, adult users will not have to prove they are not teens each time they sign into a social media site through an identification check.
The primary goal is to limit addictive scrolling and reduce the potential exposure to dangerous online content.
The restrictions go further than just social media. Access to websites promoting gambling, tobacco, alcohol, or pornographic content will be blocked for users under 18, and the ban also extends to dating platforms such as Tinder.
The technology behind this initiative was developed under the guidance of the European Commission, which is working to create a uniform regulatory framework for all Member States. Unlike Australia, the Greek solution does not rely solely on age verification by the platforms themselves; instead, the enforcement is done “directly on the device, through the ‘Kids Wallet’ application.”
If the EU can enact measures to curb social media use among teens without violating privacy concerns for adult users, it will be a major win for the European project. Social media use has been widely identified as being destructive for developing teenagers, and may play a role in growing mental illness. In addition, young people are being exposed to extreme content on the broader internet, including hardcore pornography.
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Featured image source: https://www.snexplores.org/article/kids-social-media-protections
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