Preliminary data from the Cyprus Children’s Health and Environment Observatory (Children_First) show that young children in Cyprus spend significant time on screens every day, often exceeding recommended limits. The findings reopen the discussion about introducing measures in Cyprus to address digital addiction.
Preliminary data from the Children_First Observatory indicate that daily screen use for entertainment among young children approaches or exceeds two hours per day. These indications bring the issue of digital addiction back into focus and highlight the need for more systematic prevention policies, at a time when several countries worldwide are already examining or implementing measures to restrict children’s access to social media.
The Observatory’s data reflect a trend increasingly observed in modern families: the consistent presence of digital devices in children’s daily lives from a very young age. A preliminary analysis of data for children aged 6–7 years shows that a significant portion of their free time is spent on screen-related activities, mainly for entertainment.
Specifically:
- The median screen time for watching videos, television programmes or content on platforms such as YouTube or TikTok reaches approximately 1.5 hours per day, both on weekdays and weekends.
- The median screen time for electronic games on mobile phones, tablets, consoles or computers reaches around 45 minutes on weekdays and approximately 1.5 hours on weekends.
Impact on children’s health
These data suggest that for many children the total daily exposure to screens may reach or exceed what is considered a safe limit. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, the total time children aged 5 to 13 spend on screens for entertainment purposes should not exceed two hours per day.
Researchers note that when screen use becomes prolonged and routine, the likelihood of developing behaviours associated with digital addiction increases, particularly when the use involves social media, online gaming or continuous consumption of digital content.
Excessive screen use is not only about the time children spend online but is also linked to broader effects on their health and development. According to the IFamily European study, in which children from Cyprus also participated through the Child Health Institute, using the internet and multimedia for more than two hours daily is associated with a range of negative outcomes.
The research, conducted across nine European countries, found that excessive digital media use may reduce children’s psychological well-being, negatively affect self-esteem, strain family relationships and reinforce sedentary behaviour. At the same time, reduced physical activity associated with increased screen time may contribute to rising childhood obesity.
What other countries are doing
The debate on limiting children’s access to social media is intensifying internationally, with several countries already examining or implementing legislative interventions.
In France, legislation requires parental consent for creating social media accounts for children under 15, while measures have also been introduced to restrict the use of mobile phones in schools.
In Spain, a public debate is under way on stricter age verification controls on digital platforms, while Australia has introduced initiatives strengthening the responsibility of platforms to protect minors from harmful content.
At the same time, Greece is moving toward a ban on social media use for minors under the age of 15.
Need for measures in Cyprus
These findings bring back the discussion about whether Cyprus needs a more comprehensive strategy to manage children’s digital exposure.
Experts emphasise that addressing digital addiction cannot rely solely on families. Instead, it requires coordinated interventions at the level of the state, education systems and digital platforms.
Among the measures proposed by researchers are:
- awareness programmes for parents and teachers on managing children’s screen time
- the integration of digital health education into school curricula
- the development of parental control tools and age verification mechanisms
- possible regulations regarding minors’ access to social media platforms.