Children’s digital safety and the prevention of online gaming addiction took centre stage at an informative event organised by KMOP on Monday, 30 September 2025. The initiative brought together parents, educators, health professionals, and representatives of social organisations, who participated with great interest and enthusiasm.
The event aimed to shed light on the challenges children face in their everyday online activities, while showcasing good practices, preventive tools, and concrete solutions to help them navigate the digital world safely and confidently.
Moderating the discussion, Ms Jenny Lazarou, Project Coordination Manager at KMOP, underlined that the goal was not merely to raise awareness but also to foster a meaningful exchange of experiences and practical approaches to protect and empower children and adolescents online.
The programme opened with Ms Elli Kaplani, Sociologist and Researcher at KMOP, who presented findings from the CSAPE research on the online habits and behaviours of children aged 9–12. Based on a sample of 251 children, the results reveal a worrying picture:
- 77% reported having internet access through their own device, and nearly half use it daily, mainly for gaming, schoolwork, and social networking.
- Six in ten children spend time on social media every day, while one in three has an online gaming account and one in four maintains a social media profile.
Particularly alarming is that 37% of children admitted presenting themselves online as older than they really are, increasing their vulnerability to online grooming. The study also documented serious incidents: 46.5% experienced at least one disturbing online event in the past year; 20% communicated with a stranger online; and 6% met someone in person whom they first encountered online. Moreover, 22.8% were exposed to inappropriate content, ranging from violent imagery to websites promoting self-destructive behaviour.
Despite frequent internet use, many children remain unaware of basic safety tools such as blocking and reporting functions. Ms Kaplani stressed the urgent need to strengthen digital literacy and proposed practical steps for parents and schools: fostering open communication, setting clear rules for internet use, educating children about online risks, and enhancing family–school collaboration.
Building on the discussion of online behaviours, Ms Angeliki Oikonomopoulou, Systemic Psychologist and Coordinator of the “Ariadni” Day Centre, addressed the addictive nature of electronic games. She reminded participants that the World Health Organization recognised gaming addiction as a mental health disorder in 2018, highlighting the seriousness of the issue.
Oikonomopoulou explained that gaming addiction is a behavioural disorder driven by reward mechanisms built into games, often leading to neglect of sleep, schoolwork, and social relationships. Emphasising the decisive role of the family, she introduced the widely recommended “3-6-9-12 rule”: no screens before age 3, no consoles before 6, no internet before 9, and no social media before 12.
She concluded with a powerful message to parents and educators: “It is not enough to press pause on the games; we must press play on our relationship with our children.”
The conversation then turned to prevention and intervention strategies. Ms Kornilia Androulaki, EU Project Manager at KMOP, presented the MINDSET project, which focuses on identifying early signs of gaming addiction and supporting effective responses. She described “gaming disorder” as characterised by three core elements: impaired control over gaming, prioritising gaming over other activities, and continued gaming despite negative consequences — all of which can have significant social, academic, and personal impacts.
Androulaki also explored the social and family risk factors, as well as the addictive features embedded in games themselves — such as reward systems, immersive virtual worlds, and competitive elements — that heighten dependency. She highlighted the project’s comprehensive support materials, including handbooks for young people, organisational change guides, and e-learning programmes for professionals.
Concluding the event, Ms Dimitra Noni, EU Project Manager at KMOP, introduced the Safe Online project, an initiative designed to enhance teachers’ and students’ capacity for safe online navigation, with a particular focus on preventing and addressing cyberbullying.
Noni outlined the project’s main objectives: training more than 200 teachers and improving the digital skills of over 500 students. A key tool is an interactive simulator that uses gamification elements based on real cyberbullying scenarios. Through this simulator, students learn how to respond safely, develop critical thinking, and cultivate digital responsibility in a secure environment. The project also offers a range of educational resources, lesson plans, and an online platform to support school-based activities. Surveys and focus groups conducted as part of the project highlighted the significant impact of cyberbullying, underscoring the importance of early prevention.
Protection Starts with Education
In her closing remarks, Ms Lazarou thanked all speakers and participants for their contributions and reiterated a central message: protecting children is not about excluding them from technology but about guiding them, educating them, and strengthening their digital skills.
For further information about the event and our activities in Brussels, contact us at [email protected].