SOCIAL MEDIA BAN WON’T SOLVE PROBLEM – The ban would merely push the problem down the road, says Criminologist
A Greek criminologist said the government should target companies not teenagers as the country prepares to block social media for under 15s.
Athens criminologist Kelly Ioannou said on Wednesday (February 4) the ban would merely push the problem down the road and not solve anything.
Greece said on Tuesday (February 3) it was “very close” to announcing a social media ban for children below the age of 15, following other countries such as Spain.
They would be joining countries such as Britain and France that are also considering taking a tougher stance on social media, after Australia in December became the first nation to prohibit access to such platforms for children younger than 16.
Ioannou, a digital criminologist and trauma coach believes a ban could make it worse as youths will find alternative ways of accessing it.
A January poll conducted by Alco pollsters for Greece’s Alpha TV shows 80% of Greeks would support such a ban.
Instances of negative behaviours by youth in Greece online have increased in recent years, Ioannou said, including bullying, hate speech, revenge porn, harassment, humiliation, and financial blackmail.
