Greece to ban social media for children under 15 from 2027

In a decisive move to safeguard young people’s mental well-being, Greece has announced plans to ban social media access for children under the age of 15 starting January next year. 

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the initiative aims to address rising levels of anxiety, sleep disturbances, and the addictive nature of online platforms. In a video message shared on TikTok, he highlighted the mounting pressures faced by young users.

“Many young people tell me they feel exhausted, from comparisons, from comments, from the pressure to always be online,” Mitsotakis said, noting that parents have increasingly voiced concerns about their children’s well-being and excessive screen time.

The proposed ban builds on existing efforts by the Greek government to regulate digital usage among minors. Authorities have already prohibited mobile phones in schools and introduced parental control platforms designed to help families manage teenagers’ screen time more effectively.

The measure reflects growing global concern over the psychological and behavioral impact of digital platforms on minors.

Greece joins a growing list of countries tightening oversight of social media use among children. Nations such as France, Austria, and Spain are pursuing similar restrictions. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has launched a consultation on a potential ban for under-16s, while Ireland and Denmark are exploring comparable measures. 

Recently, Indonesia has also stepped up efforts to protect minors online, introducing stricter regulations on social media access for those under 16, along with enhanced age-verification mechanisms to curb children’s exposure to harmful content and excessive social media use.

In December last year, Australia became the first nation to mandate that platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face substantial fines, setting a precedent for global digital regulation.

However, social media companies have raised concerns over blanket bans, arguing they may be difficult to enforce and risk isolating vulnerable teenagers. Reddit has challenged Australia’s legislation in court, underscoring the legal and operational complexities of such policies.

Mitsotakis also indicated that Greece would advocate for coordinated action at the European level. The announcement comes amid increasing scrutiny of tech giants, including Meta and YouTube, which were found liable in a landmark U.S. trial in March concerning a woman’s childhood addiction to social media.

As governments worldwide grapple with the unintended consequences of digital connectivity, Greece’s proposed ban signals a broader shift toward stricter regulation aimed at protecting the next generation in an increasingly online world.