The framework of the national strategy for the protection of children from addiction to the Internet was presented today, Monday 30 December 2024, by Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis at a special event.

Subsequently, the special website parco.gov.gr was launched, to provide parents with a control tool to ensure their children’s safe navigation on social media. Soon to be added to the parental control toolbox will be the Kids Wallet, an app through which will be given the ability to not only time limit children’s mobile use but also the content they are exposed to.

Ms. Stella Christidi, psychiatrist, director of the 18 Ano rehabilitation unit of the Attica Psychiatric Hospital of Attica and scientific manager of the unit’s Department of Problematic Internet Use, who participated in the event, explains to protothema.gr that addiction starts from childhood:

“Boys usually from 6 to 7 with gaming, a little later girls with social media, Instagram, TikTok. The immediate ‘reward’ that the internet offers children makes it particularly attractive,” he will say to clarify that “scientifically, the term ‘internet addiction’ is not recognised, but only ‘gaming disorder’;, in America, they say not to buy children game consoles between the ages of 6 and 9, because there is a high risk of addiction.”

A central pillar of the strategy for tackling online violence by adults, is prevention and both a holistic approach and multi-level intervention are needed.

As it is well known, $10.5 trillion is raised by the underground economy on the internet and surveys show that 75% of children aged 9-12 years have their own device. This is a generation with high familiarity with technology but difficulties in real life.

“I’m like a zombie”

“My spirit is consumed by the screen, I lose my body, I’m like a ‘zombie’,” is the testimony of a teenager with an internet addiction problem.

An immersion in another world, losing touch with the environment, captures the addiction. The phenomenon is multifactorial – from internet familiarity and lack of parental control to targeted algorithms to create addiction.

In terms of effects, “internet addiction affects important functions of children’s brains, particularly the prefrontal lobe, where ‘executive’ functions are concentrated. In general, it has a negative effect on behaviour and thinking,” Christidi said.
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“It is also associated with a positive effect,” she said.

“Attention, concentration, working memory, problem-solving ability, impulse control are affected. Children find it difficult to set goals, plan and implement them. To focus their attention. In many cases, these children may be misdiagnosed with ADHD, i.e., attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity as a consequence of internet abuse,” he adds. In addition, children’s overexposure to the internet negatively affects the development of their social skills – “they become isolated, they avoid interaction, they don’t know how to communicate in the real world, and we will see the consequences later, when children become adults,” she notes.

Long-term use is one thing, addiction is another

The distinction between heavy use and addiction is not clear, as there are no accurate time limits. Of course, if a child spends six hours a day in front of a screen, it is undoubtedly a problem.

However, addiction is something else. “We don’t ask children ‘how many hours are you on the internet’ but rather ‘what are you doing on the internet?‘,” Christidi tells protothema.gr, to explain: “Criteria of addiction are not hours. It is whether the child remains functional, that is, whether he or she can stop playing at any time. Also, whether the internet becomes a ‘mood regulator’. That is, as long as they are playing, they are fine, and they stop being fine when they stop.”

Not everyone gets addicted

Because addiction is a multifactorial phenomenon, for a child to become addicted to the internet, there has to be a background. “A child who is addicted to the internet has a mental health problem and we need to address that. Or a child with a mental health problem, such as children with ADHD or Asperger’s, is a candidate for internet addiction and we need to intervene in time,” the expert stresses.

More specifically, individual factors that aggravate the situation are usually existing mental disorders.

According to the psychiatrist, “in cases of juvenile internet addiction, we find high rates of comorbidity, that is, the existence of a mental disorder in particularly high rates, reaching 80% – children with anxiety or depression, with emotional disorders, ADHD, Asperger’s, learning difficulties, children who have experienced bullying.”

In reality, these are children who are struggling in the real world and by going online, they receive relief, pleasure, positive emotions that are very likely to develop into addiction.

In addition to individual factors, the family plays a very important role, such as in cases where violence or abusive behaviours are present, as well as the school environment.

Watch the video for instructions on how to enable parental control on Android and iOS devices.

The 8 critical questions and answers for child protection

What is parental control?
Parental controls are a set of tools and settings that allow parents to manage and control their children’s use of the internet and apps. With these tools, you can restrict access to inappropriate content, set time limits on the use of specific apps or the internet as a whole, and monitor your child’s activity.

The main goal is to protect children from risks associated with internet exposure, such as accessing violent or inappropriate material, contact with strangers, and excessive device use that can affect their mental and physical health. Parental control settings vary by device and platform, but generally offer a high degree of flexibility to tailor the restrictions to your child’s needs and age.

How do I enable parental controls on my child’s device?
You can enable parental controls through your device settings. Follow the steps from the instructions you can find here for iOS and here for Android devices.

Can I limit the amount of time my child spends on apps?
Yes, parental control tools allow you to set time limits on the use of specific apps or overall device usage. You can set, for example, how much time a day your child can use certain apps, such as games or social networking apps. Some platforms also allow you to stop using the device permanently after a certain period. This feature is useful to control the balance between online activity and other daily activities, such as reading and sleeping. This setting also helps you prevent excessive use of the device, which can affect the child’s health and sleep quality.

Can I block certain websites or content?
Yes, with parental controls you can filter and block access to websites or content that is not appropriate for your child’s age. Many parental control tools offer blacklists and whitelists, allowing you to choose which websites are safe for your child and which are not. In addition, you can set up filters that automatically block websites with inappropriate content, such as violence, pornography or dangerous information. This feature ensures that your child only has access to content that you deem appropriate and safe for their age. Filters can be adjusted to cover both web searches and access to apps or videos.

Can I see what content my child is watching?
Yes, many parental control tools allow you to monitor your child’s activity, such as which apps they use and for how long. You can also see what websites they’re accessing or what content they’re watching, especially if you’ve enabled content monitoring on YouTube or other video platforms. In some cases you can get weekly or monthly reports on device usage, giving you a comprehensive picture of your child’s online activity. This helps you determine if your child is following the rules you’ve set or if you need to adjust restrictions for their safety and well-being.

Can my child bypass parental control?
As long as you have set up parental controls correctly and set a strong password or PIN, only you can modify or disable the settings. However, it is important to ensure that the child does not have access to the password or PIN, as otherwise, they could bypass the restrictions. In addition, in some cases, children may try to find ways to circumvent the restrictions through third-party applications or with the help of peers. For this reason, it is important to regularly update parental control settings and monitor device usage for any glitches. Constant communication with your child about the importance of responsible internet use can also help prevent such attempts.

Can I monitor the location of my child’s device?
Yes, many parental control apps provide the ability to monitor the location of your child’s device in real time. This feature is especially useful for knowing where your child is, especially if they spend time outside of the house without your supervision. Most parental control apps, such as Google Family Link and Find My iPhone, allow you to view the location of the device on a map and receive alerts when the device goes in or out of certain areas. This gives you added security and peace of mind, knowing where your child is at all times.

How can I set different restrictions for each child?
Modern devices and parental controls provide the ability to create multiple profiles, each of which can be set individually for each child. This feature is extremely useful as you can adjust the restrictions according to each child’s age, needs and maturity level. For example, you can set stricter restrictions for a younger child, such as filtering inappropriate content or strict time limits on app usage, while for a teenager you can choose less strict rules, allowing more flexibility. The process is simple: through the parental control settings, you can create different profiles, personalise them and set specific options such as app restrictions, hours of use and content filters. This allows you to monitor and control each child based on their specific needs, while ensuring their safety online.

Watch the presentation of the national strategy to protect children from internet addiction