Cyprus Minister of Education meets with Youth Panel to discuss internet safety

On Monday, October 12, 2026, the Cypriot Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth, Dr. Athena Michaelidou, held a meeting with members of the CYber Safety Youth Panel. The meeting, which was also attended by the Ministry’s General Director, Marios Panagidis, took place to address concerns regarding the uncontrolled use of the internet by minors in the age of artificial intelligence.

The students, representing various gymnasiums and lyceums across Cyprus, expressed their support for implementing age restrictions for social media access, aligning with similar legislative discussions taking place within the European Union. Furthermore, the participants exchanged views on critical digital issues including cyberbullying, digital literacy, and the necessity of creating a safer online environment for young people.

The CYber Safety Youth Panel operates under the Cyprus Safer Internet Center and is coordinated by the Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus. This initiative aims to provide students with a platform to advocate for safer digital policies directly to government officials, ensuring that youth voices are considered in future legislative and educational frameworks.