The age of 15 is set as the minimum limit for creating and maintaining an account on social media platforms in Cyprus, according to a post by President Nikos Christodoulides.
As he notes, the main goal is the protection of children, the support of families, and the more effective enforcement of rules by the platforms themselves. “Protecting our children in the digital environment is a top priority for our government,” he emphasizes.
At the same time, he points out that the Republic of Cyprus is among the member states of the European Union that are moving swiftly to adopt the European technical proposal for online age verification. This proposal is expected to be integrated within the year into the national “Digital Citizen” application.
In Greece, a similar legislative measure is expected to be brought to a vote in the summer and is anticipated to come into force on January 1, 2027.
He further clarifies that the relevant bill will define the scope of application, the obligation for age verification, penalties in cases of non-compliance, as well as the necessary transitional provisions.
Meanwhile, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that a dedicated age verification app is technically ready and aims to protect children online, allowing users to prove their age without revealing personal data.
Although there is not yet a unified binding age limit across the EU, the European Parliament has proposed 16 as the minimum age for social media use (while platforms currently allow access from 13). This application is expected to become a key tool for implementing both national and future European regulations.
Sources: Philenews, Deutsche Welle
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