Greece to Ban Social Media Access for Under-15s in Push to Protect Youth

Greece has announced plans to ban social media access for children under the age of 15, in a move aimed at addressing growing concerns over the impact of online platforms on young people’s mental health.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the restriction, set to take effect from January next year, is intended to tackle rising levels of anxiety, sleep disruption and what he described as the “addictive design” of social media applications.

In a video message shared on TikTok, Mitsotakis said many young people feel overwhelmed by constant comparisons and pressure to remain online, while parents have raised concerns about poor sleep and increased anxiety among their children.

He described the planned measure as “difficult but necessary,” stressing that the goal is not to distance young people from technology entirely, but to protect them from harmful digital environments. “The addictive design of certain applications… takes away your innocence and your freedom,” he said.

The move places Greece among a growing number of countries seeking stricter controls on children’s use of social media. Australia recently introduced a law requiring platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to remove accounts held by users under 16 or face heavy fines. Other European nations, including France, Austria and Spain, are also pursuing similar restrictions.

In the United Kingdom, the government has launched a consultation on a potential ban for under-16s, while Ireland and Denmark are considering comparable measures.

However, social media companies have pushed back against blanket bans, arguing they may be difficult to enforce and could inadvertently isolate vulnerable teenagers. Reddit is currently challenging Australia’s law in court.

Mitsotakis also signalled Greece’s intention to pursue action at a broader European level. In a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, he called for a unified EU framework to strengthen protections for minors online.

Proposals include mandatory age verification systems for users under 15, a potential Europe-wide ban for that age group, and requirements for platforms to re-verify users’ ages every six months.