Greece launches 'shield' to protect children on social media

(CLO) With the Kids Wallet application scheduled to launch in 2025, Greece aims to create a safe cyberspace for children.

The launch of the app comes on the heels of a recent survey conducted by KMOP, a prominent Greek research organization, which highlighted the urgency of such measures.

The study found that 76.6% of children aged 9-12 regularly access the internet via personal devices, with 58.6% using social media daily. Alarmingly, 22.8% of these young users have encountered inappropriate content, yet many are still unaware of basic safety features such as blocking or reporting harmful interactions.

The Kids Wallet app will perform two main functions: It will make parental controls easier and will become the official national tool for verifying users' ages. (Illustration photo)

The Kids Wallet app, scheduled to launch in March 2025, aims to protect children under 15 from the risks of excessive and inappropriate internet use, said Dimitris Papastergiou, Greece's Minister of Digital Government.

The app will operate through a widely adopted government services platform and integrate seamlessly with the existing smartphone app adults use to carry digital identification.

“The app’s dual functionality will incorporate advanced algorithms to track usage and apply rigorous authentication processes,” Papastergiou said.

The app would also make social media platforms more accountable for enforcing age controls, Papastergiou said. These online child protection measures would go further than existing regulations in some European countries by introducing more direct government involvement.

The Kids Wallet app will be integrated into Greece’s public services system, allowing parents to easily monitor their children’s online activity. The app will use smart algorithms to analyze usage data and detect irregularities. In addition, Kids Wallet will have a user age verification function, helping to prevent children from accessing age-inappropriate content.

Education experts say that children can benefit from using the internet if properly guided. However, they also stress the importance of balancing protecting children with respecting their privacy.

Hoang Anh (according to GP, Newsweek, GI)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hy-lap-tung-ra-la-chan-bao-ve-tre-em-tren-mang-xa-hoi-post328377.html