Focus on protecting minors in digital age
Children scrolling risks were at the centre of a discussion at the Delphi Economic Forum, where officials and experts examined how to protect minors from excessive technology use and artificial intelligence.
Participants included Greek Social Cohesion and Family Minister Domna Michailidou, Secretary General for Information Systems Dimitris Anagnostopoulos, Public Health Director Fotini Koulouri, police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou, Thibault de Lary de Latour (BAT), and DIKO MP Chrysanthos Pantelides.
Need for regulation without exclusion
Michailidou stressed that artificial intelligence is already part of everyday life and must be regulated proactively.
She said the challenge is to create a framework that sets limits without alienating children, allowing technology to remain a tool rather than a defining influence on behaviour.
She highlighted excessive use of digital media, noting that constant scrolling can affect the development of critical thinking and personality.
Low parental control and enforcement gaps
Anagnostopoulos presented data showing that around 70% of children aged 9–16 use the internet daily, while parental controls are used in only 30% of cases and age verification tools in about 20%.
He said technology can help verify age and restrict access, placing responsibility on platforms as well.
However, he stressed that implementation remains the key challenge: “We can spend 99% of the time discussing what should be done, but the crucial 1% is how it is implemented.”
Violence shifting into digital space
Dimoglidou noted that juvenile delinquency is becoming more intense and increasingly shifting into the digital environment.
She said participation by girls in such incidents is rising, while behaviours are often amplified through social media exposure.
She also referred to existing tools such as support lines and apps enabling direct communication with authorities, forming part of a broader strategy focused on prevention, intervention and protection.
Earlier exposure increases long-term risks
Koulouri warned that exposure to addictive behaviours is starting at younger ages, increasing the risk of long-term consequences.
She cited data showing that one in three teenagers uses social media daily, while one in eight shows signs of problematic use.
She also referred to new legislation on tobacco and alcohol and the use of digital tools to strengthen monitoring.
Pilot tools and shared responsibility
Thibault de Lary de Latour highlighted pilot programmes and age-verification tools being developed in cooperation with European authorities, noting that AI is part of the solution but not the only answer.
He said lessons from past regulation of nicotine product marketing could be applied to digital platforms.
Pantelides stressed that responsibility should not fall on children, but on adults, companies and institutions shaping the digital environment.
Six years spent scrolling
During the discussion, it was noted that the average user may spend up to six years of their life scrolling, underlining the scale of the issue and its impact on younger generations.
It was also suggested that this figure may be significantly higher among younger users, who typically spend more time in digital environments than older age groups.
Also read: Cyprus sets social media age limit at 15
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