BLOCK ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR MINORS IN CYPRUS BY EARLY 2027- LEGISLATION IS BEING PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER EU STATES - Filenews 17/4
By the beginning of 2027, the technical solutions regarding the preparation of the legislation to set the age of 15 as the minimum for creating and maintaining an account on social media platforms are expected to be ready.
Speaking on Alpha's midday show, the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nikodimos Damianou, noted that the need to put barriers in order to protect children has matured and now the competent institutions are focusing on practical issues.
The Deputy Minister confirmed the fact that the Government intends to set the age limit of 15 years – without parental consent but as a barrier – for the creation of an account on specific social media platforms.
He explained that a working group has already been set up, which studied the legislative framework, while important in the whole effort is what the other member states of the European Union are doing, which have put in place or announced similar decisions on barriers for minor children on social media. Subsequently, according to the competent Deputy Minister, the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights will also be consulted.
Which platforms will be blocked
Mr. Damianou added that in order for the announcement to be implemented, the legislation must be created, the scope it will cover, which platforms will be blocked, mentioning for example websites with games that create addiction and have an increased likelihood of affecting children.
Regarding which platforms will be blocked, Mr. Damianou clarified that these are the obvious large social media platforms, as well as some others that will be clarified during the preparation of the legislation. In fact, according to the Deputy Minister, contacts are being made with other member states of the Union to verify what they did during the process of passing the legislation.
Each country has the right to set the age limit
The Deputy Minister of Innovation stressed that Cyprus cannot implement such legislation on its own, as the EU must have a uniform and horizontal solution for all member states on this issue.
However, each member state of the Union, according to Mr. Damianou, has the right to set the age limit for a social media ban.
Who imposes the sanctions
On the question of who will impose sanctions on platforms that do not comply with the legislation of each country, Mr. Damianou said that if Cyprus has its own legislation, then it will be able to impose sanctions, however, the legislation must be harmonized with other legislations as well.
How age verification is done
While a minor wants to create an account on a platform, verification is achieved through the interconnection with the national civil registry systems of each state, and by integrating this mechanism into the "Digital Citizen" application (as far as Cyprus is concerned).
At the same time, he explained that teenagers from 14 years old and over are integrated into the digital citizen.
Common policy in Europe
The Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy referred to the importance of having a common policy in Europe on children's barriers to social media, so that platforms can be put under pressure to comply with the legislation.
