The opposition KDH called on the government to come up with concrete measures to regulate social networks. It labeled them the “primary tumor” of mental health. At Monday’s press conference, the chairman of the movement Milan Majerský, members of the National Council (NR) of the Slovak Republic Ján Horecký and Peter Stachura and MEP Miriam Lexmann (all KDH) informed about it.
- KDH called on the government to take measures to regulate social networks.
- It described social networks as a serious threat to children’s mental health.
- The movement criticizes the absence of systemic measures in government plans.
- Statistics show high numbers of addictions and suicide attempts among children.
- Age verification and the protection of children online are being addressed at the European level.
“We call on the government and call on the relevant departments not to just state what we have known for a long time, but to come up with solutions,” Horecký appealed. According to the movement, the Action Plan for the National Concept for the Protection of Children in the Digital Space did not bring any indications of systemic measures to regulate social networks. “We are clear about this and we know how to do it in order to raise a resilient generation from our children. So that they are not children who are manipulated, ruled by the Internet, algorithms and social networks,” declared Horecký.
Majerský pointed to statistics according to which 46 percent of children between the ages of 13 and 17 are on social networks all the time, a quarter of children show signs of social network addiction, and the pressure from social networks is identified as one of the biggest causes of mental health problems in children and adolescents. In this context, Stachura drew attention to recently published statistics regarding suicide attempts. “In six years, from 2019 to 2024, more than 1,500 suicide attempts were recorded among children and adolescents under the age of 18,” zoomed in. He pointed out the psychological problems caused by social networks.
Lexmann mentioned several steps implemented within the European Parliament, such as the draft legislation for effective age verification. According to her, they also dealt with addictive algorithms, banning the misuse of sensitive data or protecting children from online sexual content.
