In February 2025, the Greek Safer Internet Centre, coordinated by the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), conducted a large-scale national survey exploring the digital habits of children and young people aged 10 to 18. The survey involved 2,500 students from major cities including Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, and Larissa, and aimed to evaluate the level of compliance with the European Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into force in 2024.
The study focused on four key areas: age verification, screen time and overuse, exposure to harmful content, and use of parental control tools, all within the context of Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs).
Key findings
Age restrictions are widely ignored
The majority of children under 13 already use social media, bypassing platform-imposed age limits.
- 66 per cent of primary school students, and 74 per cent of secondary school students admitted to entering a false birthdate to register.
This raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of age verification systems and highlights non-compliance with the DSA’s age assurance requirements.
High screen time and self-awareness of overuse
Excessive use is a growing trend.
- Over half of secondary school students, and nearly a third of primary school students reported spending more than three hours online on weekends.
- On weekdays, 39 per cent of secondary school students and 18 per cent of primary school students exceed three hours daily.
- Notably, 1 in 4 secondary school students self-identified as excessive users and expressed a need for support to reduce their screen time, indicating a demand for self-regulation tools and usage alerts, as promoted by the DSA.
Parental supervision weakens with age
- While 49.9 per cent of parents with children in primary school reportedly use parental control tools, this drops drastically in secondary education;
- 71 per cent of teenagers in secondary school claim their parents use no monitoring tools at all.
- Furthermore, 26 per cent of students said they created accounts without their parents’ knowledge, highlighting the need for stronger parental consent mechanisms, especially for users under 13.
Exposure to inappropriate content
A significant percentage of students are exposed to harmful material:
- 34 per cent in primary school;
- 61 per cent in secondary school.
In over 60 per cent of the cases, this exposure was accidental. Students reported mixed feelings about recommendation algorithms:
- 57 per cent did not mind being shown similar content repeatedly;
- 43 per cent found it annoying;
- 49 per cent saw it as a potential risk.
Many admitted that it led them to spend more time online than intended, pointing to concerns over addictive design and algorithmic transparency, both addressed under the DSA.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying affects both age groups.
- In primary school, 6 per cent had been victims, and 9 per cent witnesses;
- In secondary school, the figures were 6 per cent for victims, and 15 per cent for witnesses.
Most students preferred handling incidents independently, suggesting a need for more accessible support and education around seeking help.
Online risks and behaviour
Although secondary school students reported feeling well-informed, behaviours suggest otherwise:
- 18 per cent had agreed to meet someone they originally met online;
- 13 per cent accepted friend requests from strangers;
- 12 per cent shared highly personal photos.
Students identified data theft (27 per cent), excessive use (24 per cent), and contact with strangers (16 per cent) as key risks, followed by misinformation (15 per cent).
Knowledge of reporting tools
- While 93 per cent of secondary school students knew how to report or block users or content;
- Only 71 per cent of primary school students could say the same.
This highlights the need for age-appropriate, easy-to-use reporting mechanisms for younger users.
Comparison with 2019 results
The study also compared current findings with a similar 2019 survey. Key differences include:
- Increased internet and social media use across all age groups in 2025.
- More protective parental behaviour at the primary school level.
- Improved digital literacy and awareness among adolescents, who now demonstrate a better understanding of online risks and personal safety strategies.
Despite increased awareness, the study concludes that the protection mechanisms in place remain inadequate, especially regarding early access, content moderation, and addictive platform design. The research emphasises the urgent need for effective enforcement of the DSA, enhanced parental involvement, more robust age verification, and better education to equip children with the tools and knowledge needed for safe and responsible digital participation.
The survey report is available here (in English).
Find more information about the work of the Greek Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
More from this author
In February 2025, the Greek Safer Internet Centre, coordinated by the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), conducted a large-scale national survey exploring the digital habits of children and young people aged 10 to 18. The survey involved 2,500 students from major cities including Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, and Larissa, and aimed to evaluate the level of compliance with the European Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into force in 2024.
The study focused on four key areas: age verification, screen time and overuse, exposure to harmful content, and use of parental control tools, all within the context of Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs).
Key findings
Age restrictions are widely ignored
The majority of children under 13 already use social media, bypassing platform-imposed age limits.
- 66 per cent of primary school students, and 74 per cent of secondary school students admitted to entering a false birthdate to register.
This raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of age verification systems and highlights non-compliance with the DSA’s age assurance requirements.
High screen time and self-awareness of overuse
Excessive use is a growing trend.
- Over half of secondary school students, and nearly a third of primary school students reported spending more than three hours online on weekends.
- On weekdays, 39 per cent of secondary school students and 18 per cent of primary school students exceed three hours daily.
- Notably, 1 in 4 secondary school students self-identified as excessive users and expressed a need for support to reduce their screen time, indicating a demand for self-regulation tools and usage alerts, as promoted by the DSA.
Parental supervision weakens with age
- While 49.9 per cent of parents with children in primary school reportedly use parental control tools, this drops drastically in secondary education;
- 71 per cent of teenagers in secondary school claim their parents use no monitoring tools at all.
- Furthermore, 26 per cent of students said they created accounts without their parents’ knowledge, highlighting the need for stronger parental consent mechanisms, especially for users under 13.
Exposure to inappropriate content
A significant percentage of students are exposed to harmful material:
- 34 per cent in primary school;
- 61 per cent in secondary school.
In over 60 per cent of the cases, this exposure was accidental. Students reported mixed feelings about recommendation algorithms:
- 57 per cent did not mind being shown similar content repeatedly;
- 43 per cent found it annoying;
- 49 per cent saw it as a potential risk.
Many admitted that it led them to spend more time online than intended, pointing to concerns over addictive design and algorithmic transparency, both addressed under the DSA.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying affects both age groups.
- In primary school, 6 per cent had been victims, and 9 per cent witnesses;
- In secondary school, the figures were 6 per cent for victims, and 15 per cent for witnesses.
Most students preferred handling incidents independently, suggesting a need for more accessible support and education around seeking help.
Online risks and behaviour
Although secondary school students reported feeling well-informed, behaviours suggest otherwise:
- 18 per cent had agreed to meet someone they originally met online;
- 13 per cent accepted friend requests from strangers;
- 12 per cent shared highly personal photos.
Students identified data theft (27 per cent), excessive use (24 per cent), and contact with strangers (16 per cent) as key risks, followed by misinformation (15 per cent).
Knowledge of reporting tools
- While 93 per cent of secondary school students knew how to report or block users or content;
- Only 71 per cent of primary school students could say the same.
This highlights the need for age-appropriate, easy-to-use reporting mechanisms for younger users.
Comparison with 2019 results
The study also compared current findings with a similar 2019 survey. Key differences include:
- Increased internet and social media use across all age groups in 2025.
- More protective parental behaviour at the primary school level.
- Improved digital literacy and awareness among adolescents, who now demonstrate a better understanding of online risks and personal safety strategies.
Despite increased awareness, the study concludes that the protection mechanisms in place remain inadequate, especially regarding early access, content moderation, and addictive platform design. The research emphasises the urgent need for effective enforcement of the DSA, enhanced parental involvement, more robust age verification, and better education to equip children with the tools and knowledge needed for safe and responsible digital participation.
The survey report is available here (in English).
Find more information about the work of the Greek Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
- < Previous article
- Next article >
More from this author
Related articles
