Greece and Spain Take Action Against Social Media for Young People

A new wave of regulation is sweeping through Southern Europe, with Greece and Spain taking the lead in the debate on digital safety for minors. This week, the two countries announced their intention to introduce restrictive measures on adolescents’ use of social media platforms, reflecting a growing urgency to protect young people from online environment risks.

Governments’ Concerns About Digital Addiction

The governments of Greece and Spain share a common awareness of the dangers associated with uncontrolled Internet use. According to analysts, social media platforms represent environments where children are exposed to potentially harmful content, unsupervised interactions, and algorithms designed to maximize engagement, often fueling behavioral dependencies. Obsession with digital platforms is becoming an increasingly worrying phenomenon in European societies, with studies documenting negative psychological effects on younger users.

A United Front: Greece in the Realm of Online Child Protection

Greece, along with Spain, is not an isolated exception but part of a broader international movement. According to sources such as Ming Pao, these measures aim to create a safer digital environment by limiting minors’ access. Initiatives include potential restrictions on social media registration for those below a certain age, enhanced parental controls, and increased responsibilities for the platforms themselves. The international community is gradually understanding that protecting minors must go beyond statements of intent, requiring concrete legislative actions and coordinated efforts among nations. Greece is helping to define a new European paradigm where the right to online safety for young people is prioritized over the commercial freedom of large digital platforms.