Greece to ban social media access for under-15s

Mitsotakis stated that the measure, described as “difficult but necessary,” aims to shield children from the harmful effects of excessive social media use.

He added that Greece is among the first countries to adopt such a policy and called on the European Union to implement similar measures.

Push for unified European framework

In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Greek prime minister called for the establishment of a unified European framework by the end of 2026.

He proposed setting up a “Digital Age of Majority” at 15, along with compulsory age verification and regular re-verification by platforms to prevent circumvention.

Focus on protecting children’s wellbeing

Mitsotakis stated that the move is not aimed at restricting access to technology but at tackling addiction to certain applications that can harm children’s development and wellbeing.

He emphasised that scientific research indicates prolonged screen time can affect brain development and diminish rest.

Platforms required to enforce age checks

Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis confirmed that children born from 2012 onwards will be prohibited from using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, which encourage nonstop scrolling.

Messaging and video-sharing platforms such as Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber, and YouTube will remain unaffected.

He added that platforms will be required to verify users’ ages, with the list of restricted platforms remaining subject to updates.

Global trend toward tighter regulations

Greece joins an increasing number of countries imposing restrictions on social media use among minors.

Australia recently mandated that major platforms remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face fines, while Indonesia has started enforcing similar regulations. Austria, Spain, and Denmark are also deliberating on introducing digital age restrictions for social media access.