The Greek government has launched a comprehensive national strategy to address social media usage among minors, introducing new digital tools for parental control and age verification. The initiative’s first phase began on December 30, 2024, with the rollout of a dedicated website providing guidance on parental control features. The move follows Greece’s broader push toward digital transformation, which has already seen the successful implementation of mobile ID capabilities for its citizens.
A cornerstone of the strategy is the upcoming “Kids Wallet” system, scheduled for implementation within three months. The system will incorporate built-in applications and automated age authentication mechanisms to regulate online access for young users. Parents and guardians will be able to manage their children’s screen time and application access through this platform. The strategy matches similar efforts across Europe, where digital identity solutions are increasingly being used to protect minors online.
“Our children are growing up in a simulated world. As a government, we must stand by parents. The real issue here is internet addiction, and we must tackle it with decisive action,” said Dimitris Papastergiou, Greece’s Minister of Digital Governance.
“Protecting children’s well-being is a societal imperative,” said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The strategy extends beyond domestic measures, as Greece plans to collaborate with European partners and major technology companies to implement legislative measures for online content regulation and minor protection. The approach parallels recent developments in other jurisdictions, such as Australia’s stringent age verification laws for social media users under 16. The Greek government is also considering establishing a “digital adulthood” age, tentatively set at 15 years.
Further developments include plans to launch a digital wallet application in the coming year, which will serve as an integrated parental control and age verification system. The initiative builds upon Greece’s existing digital identity infrastructure, which has already enabled mobile ID boarding for domestic flights. The new application will complement the existing suite of tools designed to promote healthier technology use among young people, while supporting broader European Union digital wallet initiatives.
Sources: NDTV, To Vima, Greek City Times
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