From Social Media to Gaming and Gambling: the “Next Chapter” in the Battle for Digital Control

The public debate over restricting access for children under 15 to social media is increasingly taking on the characteristics of a broader political strategy, with implications that extend far beyond education or family policy.

In an extensive interview, the Prime Minister defended the initiative, stressing that the goal is not to ban technology, but to address addictive digital behaviours that, as he argued, affect minors’ mental health.

“We see 12–13-year-old children glued to a screen”

he noted, describing a social reality that resonates widely with parents and educators, regardless of political alignment.

“Digital adulthood” and the state as regulator

The government’s approach is built on two pillars: a statutory age restriction and a technological verification system through digital ID tools and a “Kids Wallet”-type application.

This framework seeks to transfer familiar real-world safeguards (such as age verification for alcohol and tobacco) into the digital environment.

“Just as a shopkeeper must verify age for alcohol and cigarettes, platforms must do the same”

he stated, framing the policy as institutional continuity rather than technological hostility.

Infinite scrolling: from design feature to political argument

Special emphasis was placed on platform design and the so-called “infinite scrolling” mechanism, presented as a system engineered to maximise user engagement.

The government links this design to the platforms’ economic model, where prolonged usage directly translates into higher advertising revenue.

This narrative strengthens the case for regulation, while also shifting the focus from individual responsibility to structural design incentives.

From social media to gaming and online gambling

Perhaps the most politically significant element of the intervention is the anticipated expansion of regulatory action.

“The next chapter will be gaming and online gambling”the Prime Minister said, clearly signalling the possibility of further interventions.

This statement is not incidental. Gaming platforms and online gambling environments have already come under global scrutiny for mechanisms associated with addictive behaviour, microtransactions, and psychological pressure on users.

Politically, this signals a widening regulatory agenda—from social media to the broader ecosystem of digital consumption.

European dimension and regulatory legitimacy

Implementation of the policy is closely tied to the European framework, particularly the Digital Services Act.

Greece is seeking EU-level backing to strengthen enforcement capacity, while also stating its readiness to proceed unilaterally if necessary, albeit with limited sanctioning power.

This dual stance reinforces an image of early leadership, while raising practical questions about enforcement in a highly interconnected digital environment.

Parents, society, and the politics of responsibility

At the social level, the argument strongly emphasises the role of parents as key allies in implementation.

“Parents are desperate”he said, describing households where screens have become a daily source of tension.

This framing increases societal receptiveness to regulation, while also distributing responsibility between the state and families, creating a shared accountability model.

Light political reading: policymaking in the age of screens

Beyond regulation, the initiative also carries a clear political dimension.

In a context where family life is increasingly shaped by digital platforms, the focus on children and social media becomes a high-consensus policy field with strong public resonance.

The shift “from social media to gaming and gambling” is not only a thematic expansion—it is also a continuation of a broader political narrative centred on everyday digital anxieties.

The debate over restricting minors’ access to digital platforms is no longer purely technological.

It concerns the boundaries of state protection, the limits of personal responsibility, and the emerging framework of governance in a screen-driven society.

And within this framework, the “next chapter” has already begun to take shape.

Source: pagenews.gr