According to psychologist Giorgos Pogiatzis, in Cyprus there is “increasing difficulty in stepping away from the screen, strong emotional reactions when limits are set, and problems with sleep and concentration. At the same time, socialisation is increasingly shifting to the digital environment.”
The biggest problem from social media use is observed among children aged 10 to 14. According to international scientific literature, extensive use of platforms is associated with higher levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem. Children are confronted with idealised images of life, sleep less and with poorer quality due to nighttime screen exposure, and in many cases face online bullying.
A recent OECD study found that:
- 1 in 4 teenagers felt discomfort when their personal information was shared online without consent.
- 17% of children aged 11–15 were victims of cyberbullying between 2021 and 2022.
- 23% of 15-year-olds say they feel nervous or insecure without access to their mobile phone.
- 20% of 15-year-olds neglect other important activities (sports, hobbies, etc.) because of social media.
What other European countries are doing
Following a broader international trend toward tightening children’s access to social media, Greece has not limited itself to restricting the use of social media by minors under 15, but has also proposed establishing a single “digital age of adulthood” at 15 and the mandatory implementation of age-verification mechanisms for all platforms aimed at minors.
It also proposed reconfirming users’ age every six months and creating a European-level enforcement mechanism for sanctions.
France has set the age limit at 15, with mandatory parental consent required for younger users.
Denmark is considering a similar limit, allowing access from 13 only under strict conditions.
Austria and the United Kingdom focus mainly on reliable age verification, rather than imposing strict bans.
Germany has chosen to pay greater attention not only to age limits but also to restricting the platform features that create addiction, such as endless scrolling and continuous notifications.
What Australia’s experience showed
Australia was the first country to introduce a ban on access for those under 16. However, research shows that most children continue to use social media despite the ban.
The findings raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of the restriction, especially in the first months of its implementation. According to the research, more than 60% of minors in Australia continue to use social media despite the ban.
The majority of children aged 12–15 continue to use social media, with more than half logging into TikTok (53%), YouTube (53%) and Instagram (52%).
Most platforms did not take substantial measures, while minors themselves reported no improvement in their online safety.
Parents appear more positive, noting improvements in children’s behaviour, but also negative consequences, such as a shift toward less regulated platforms. Many teenagers attempt to bypass restrictions using technological tools, such as VPNs or fake accounts.
As concerns grow about the effects of social media on children, more countries are moving toward restricting its use among vulnerable age groups. This global trend has also been followed by the Republic of Cyprus, which is moving toward setting the minimum age of 15 for creating and maintaining accounts on social media platforms.
Before submitting the relevant bill, the Office of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights will conduct a scientific study and public consultation with children themselves, according to Commissioner Elena Perikleous.
She explained that the discussion forms part of a broader strategy underway since last December, involving multiple stakeholders. The central element of the office’s approach will be the preparation of a study examining the overall impact of potential legislation on children’s rights.
This study will then be presented for public consultation, where experts, parents, children and young people will be invited to share their views through a dedicated platform.
Regarding the next steps, the Commissioner stated that the goal is to complete the study within 2026, with any legislative changes expected by 2027.
However, she emphasised that the key issue is not only restriction but the overall protection of children in an environment that is constantly evolving, as artificial intelligence and digital platforms continue to create new realities.
Children and social media
Why is there such concern that children may be at risk from the excessive use of social media?
School psychologist Giorgos Pogiatzis, speaking to Politis, explains that the influence of social media on children cannot be seen as a simple user-tool relationship, but rather as a dynamic interaction between a developing mind and an environment designed to keep it engaged.
A child, he says, is not a “small adult”, but a person whose attention, self-regulation and identity are still developing, making the influence of the digital environment much deeper.
Social media platforms function as a powerful learning system, as their architecture is based on unpredictable rewards, continuous content flow and mechanisms of social validation. According to him, children do not enter platforms to consume something specific; they remain because each new stimulus reinforces their behaviour.
“This is not a neutral interaction, but a targeted coupling between the developing mind and an environment that exploits its characteristics,” he explains.
This process leads to specific changes. Attention begins to function in terms of speed and constant switching, making it harder to concentrate on activities that require sustained focus. At the same time, tolerance for delay decreases, while boredom no longer functions as a creative space.
Self-esteem, he adds, shifts toward external indicators, meaning children learn to evaluate themselves through the reactions of others.
He stresses that the issue is not a lack of concentration but a redirection of it. “A child may not tolerate a few minutes without stimulation but can remain for hours in an uninterrupted stream of content. This shows that concentration exists, but it has been trained differently.”
Difficulty stepping away from the screen
Regarding the situation in Cyprus, Pogiatzis notes that although fully systematic data does not yet exist, the picture from schools, families and mental health services is clear.
There is increasing difficulty in stepping away from screens, strong emotional reactions when limits are imposed, as well as sleep and concentration problems. At the same time, social interaction is increasingly shifting to the digital environment.
He also refers to the Cypriot social context, noting that the small size of society strengthens the perception that participation in social media is a necessity.
In other words, a child who stays offline does not simply experience a limitation, but a form of exclusion from the main space of social interaction.
Boundaries are necessary
Regarding practical approaches, Pogiatzis stresses that managing social media use requires a combination of structure and understanding.
Clear and stable boundaries are essential, not as a punitive measure, but as a way of organising everyday life. At the same time, it is important for children to understand how social media works, as this awareness can create a psychological distance from the platforms.
However, information alone is not enough. Alternative experiences away from screens are required, such as activities, in-person social relationships and creative outlets.
Consistency among adults is also crucial, as children, he says, “learn to identify gaps” and adapt their behaviour accordingly.
A ban alone is not enough
Regarding the possibility of banning social media use for children under 15, Pogiatzis argues that such a measure can function as a protective step, particularly in delaying exposure.
However, it is not sufficient on its own, because the digital ecosystem extends beyond specific platforms, and activity can easily move elsewhere.
International experience shows that when regulation occurs without changing the architecture of the platforms, behaviour does not decrease but simply shifts to other spaces.
In many cases, use moved to less regulated environments or unsupervised hours, potentially creating greater risks.
In conclusion, he emphasises that the central issue is not simply access, but the structure of the digital environment itself.
“Without intervention in the way these systems function, any measures will continue to address the symptom rather than the mechanism that produces it.”