Greece has announced plans to ban social media access for children under the age of 15, becoming the latest European country to introduce restrictions aimed at reducing young people’s exposure to online platforms.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the policy is designed to address growing concerns about anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive nature of social media apps among teenagers. The restriction is expected to take effect in January next year.
In a video message posted on TikTok, Mitsotakis said many young people have told him they feel overwhelmed by the pressures created by social media.
“Many young people tell me they feel exhausted from comparisons, from comments, from the pressure to always be online,” he said.
He added that parents have expressed concerns about their children struggling to sleep, feeling anxious and constantly using their phones.
Mitsotakis described the move as “difficult but necessary,” emphasizing that the goal is not to separate young people from technology entirely.
“Technology can be a source of inspiration, knowledge and creativity,” he said. “But the addictive design of certain applications, and a business model based on capturing your attention, takes away your innocence and your freedom. That has to stop somewhere.”
The Greek government plans to release further details on how the restriction will be enforced, including potential requirements for social media companies to verify users’ ages.
Greece also intends to push for broader action at the European level. In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Mitsotakis called for a unified European Union framework to strengthen protections for minors online.
His proposals include mandatory age verification for users under 15 across all platforms, a pan-European ban on social media access for that age group, and a requirement for platforms to re-check users’ ages every six months.
Greece’s move reflects a growing international trend to regulate social media use among children.
Australia became the first country in the world in December to require major platforms including TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face significant fines.
Other European countries, including France, Austria and Spain, are also considering stricter rules. The United Kingdom has launched a consultation on whether to introduce a similar ban for users under 16, while Ireland and Denmark are exploring possible restrictions.
Social media companies, however, argue that blanket bans may be difficult to enforce and could potentially isolate vulnerable teenagers who rely on online platforms for support and connection.
Reddit is currently challenging Australia’s law in court, arguing that the regulations raise serious legal and practical concerns.
The debate over children’s social media use has intensified following growing research linking excessive online activity to mental health challenges among young people.
In March, a landmark trial in the United States found Meta and YouTube liable in a case involving a woman who said she became addicted to social media as a child.
Jurors concluded that Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — and Google, which owns YouTube, had intentionally designed addictive platforms that contributed to harming her mental health.
Both companies rejected the ruling and said they plan to appeal.
Meta said in a statement that teen mental health is a complex issue that cannot be blamed on a single app.
