Supported by
Cyprus wants to ban social media for children under 15
The Cypriot government has adopted a plan to protect children using social media. One of the most important proposed solutions is the establishment of 15 years as the minimum age for accessing social media platformsServices would also be required to effectively verify the age of users.
This doesn't mean, however, that the social media ban is already in effect. The draft of the new regulations is scheduled for public consultation in the coming days, and a vote on the bill is scheduled for December. Only then will we know the final scope of the restrictions and their implementation date.
The rest of the article is below
Social media ban for children under 15
The Council of Ministers has proposed establishing a so-called digital age of majority in Cyprus. The age limit for using social media would be 15.
The plan is intended to cover platforms where users create profiles, publish content, and publicly connect with others. This could include major social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
The final list of services will be specified in the draft regulations. Previous announcements by the Cypriot government indicated that certain gaming platforms and other services deemed particularly engaging or potentially leading to addictive behaviors may also be reviewed.
Before the bill is adopted, an assessment of the impact of the proposed regulations on children's rights will also be carried out.
98% of young people use social media platforms
As reported by Nikodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, social media are actively used by as many as 98 percent of young people in Cyprus.
According to data presented by the government, this is the highest percentage in the entire European Union.
Cypriot authorities also point to young users' poor performance in critically evaluating information. The problem stems not only from screen time but also from difficulty recognizing disinformation, manipulation, and other threats online.
The government also cites international research linking excessive use of social media with addictive behavior, neglect of other activities, conflicts with the environment and disruptions in daily functioning.
Platforms will have to check age
One of the most important elements of the plan is mandatory and reliable age verification.
Currently, when creating an account, users typically enter their date of birth. This means that a child can provide a false year and bypass the restrictions set out in the platform's terms and conditions.
After the change in regulations, tech companies would no longer be limited to such declarations. Service operators would be responsible for implementing mechanisms to confirm whether a user has reached the required age.
Details regarding control, platform liability and possible sanctions are to be presented in the draft law.
Verification without showing the document to the platform
Cyprus intends to use an age verification solution being developed in the European Union. The system will allow users to prove they are over the required age without sharing their name, date of birth, ID number, or other unnecessary information with the platform.
The Cypriot version of the mechanism is planned to be integrated with the Digital Citizen app. Its implementation is scheduled for 2027, following technical testing and security checks.
How does the Digital Citizen app work?
Cyprus will allocate nearly €9.8 million for the application's development and integration with the European Digital Identity Wallet. Some of its features are also available to Poles with an ARC number.
READ ON CYPRNEWS Cyprus does not want to leave responsibility to parents
According to the government, the safety of children online cannot depend solely on parents, minors themselves or the voluntary actions of technology companies.
The third pillar of the plan is education. Changes to school curricula, training for teachers, and campaigns aimed at students and parents have been announced.
Topics related to safe and informed internet use are to be introduced at various levels of education. Computer science programs in secondary and technical schools will also be updated.
The plan also envisages the development of the Cyprus Safer Internet Centre and the establishment of mechanisms for reporting and handling internet incidents involving minors.
The Cyprus project and EU regulations are not the same
The changes announced by Cyprus are part of a broader European debate on children's access to social media platforms, video services, online games and chatbots using artificial intelligence.
The European Union is working on its own solutions, including children's accounts, parental controls, age verification and features designed to encourage users to stay in front of a screen as long as possible.
However, these are separate initiatives. Cyprus is preparing its own law with an age limit of 15, although the planned verification system will utilize European digital infrastructure.
The ban is not in force yet
For now, the Cypriot 15-year limit remains a proposal approved by the Council of Ministers.
The draft is to be published as part of a consultation process led by, among others, the Citizen's Voice platform. Youth organizations and children's rights organizations are also expected to participate in the discussions.
A vote on the bill is scheduled for December. Only after the bill is finalized will it be known when the restrictions will take effect, which platforms will be affected, and how accounts existing before the new regulations take effect will be verified.
Sources: Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus; Undersecretariat for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy; Cyprus Mail; KNEWS; European Commission; Reuters.
