A few days ago, the Spanish Attorney-General's Office for the Protection of Minors, the Spanish Data Protection Agency and the European Digital Transformation Association published a proposal for the use of electronic products by teenagers, including 15 measures to restrict and guide minors to use electronic products. The proposal has been supported by more than 130 social institutions in Spain.
The proposal puts forward five key directions: first, to address the issue of minors' use of electronic products as a public health problem; The second is to raise the attention of parents and schools to the issue, and strengthen the training of teachers, health and social workers to improve people's "understanding of the risks and threats in the digital environment"; The third is to promote the formulation of laws and regulations to restrict minors from using mobile phones in schools, so that the technical equipment used in the classroom meets the relevant requirements; Fourth, establish an age verification mechanism to hold platform managers accountable for failing to comply with age verification regulations; Fifth, technology companies should pay attention to avoiding harm caused to minors in the use of algorithms, including mental health.
Data shows that the average Spanish minor now has their first personal mobile phone at the age of 11. 90 of them8% of minors go online almost every day, and 98% have registered an account on a social networking platform. According to a study by the United Nations Children's Association, one in three young Spaniards may have become addicted to the Internet.
Eduardo Esteban, coordinator of the Directorate for the Protection of Minors of the Spanish Attorney-General's Office, stressed that the misuse of electronic devices causes harm to minors. In recent years, the number of crimes committed by juveniles has increased year by year. Families and educators must work together to create a safer and healthier environment for minors.
In recent years, Spain has promulgated a series of relevant laws and policies to raise the awareness of the use of electronic products by minors. The Spanish Data Protection**, introduced in 2018, stipulates measures to protect minors under the age of 14 and their interactions in the digital sphere. For example, the Public Prosecutor's Office can intervene when it detects infringements such as the dissemination of minors' ** and personal information on social networks. In addition, Spain has set up a "Social Network and Technology Addiction** Center" in the capital, Madrid, to help minors with electronic addiction return to normal life.
Ana Caballero, Vice-President of the European Digital Transformation Association, said that the proposal would help raise awareness of the risks faced by minors on the Internet and social networks, and urge all parties involved to take responsibility and better protect minors in the digital world.
MADRID, Jan. 28 (UPI) --