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Cyprus lawmakers are debating a proposal to raise the minimum age for social media use from 14 to 16, sparking both support and caution over how it would be enforced.
The proposal, introduced by Democratic Rally MP Dimitris Dimitriou, was, according to Kathimerini's Hector Georgiou, welcomed as a constructive conversation by members of the Parliament’s Legal Committee, though questions remain about practical implementation. Dimitriou argued that the current law is largely symbolic, noting that “anyone, regardless of age, can access social media” and that major platforms, despite agreeing verbally with EU recommendations, show little intent to enforce age limits.
Several MPs voiced support, emphasizing that the change wouldn’t ban social media outright. “We’re not trying to punish kids, but to protect them,” said Committee Chair Nikos Tornaritis.
Still, concerns were raised by the Justice Ministry and the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection. Officials warned that without reliable verification, the law could be hard to enforce and may even lead to false declarations by minors. Commissioner Maria Manoli Christofidou cautioned that raising the age could make Cyprus an outlier in the EU, complicate integration with digital platforms, and create inequalities, suggesting that improving digital literacy might be a better safeguard.
If passed, the law would amend current personal data protections, bringing Cyprus in line with the EU’s GDPR, which allows member states to set social media age limits between 13 and 16. Dimitriou pointed to Greece’s approach as a model, where a government platform verifies parents’ identities before children get their first smartphone, and an app called “Kids Wallet” restricts underage access online.
The discussion marks the first step toward modernizing Cyprus’ online safety rules for minors, though how it would work in practice remains a key question.
