Greece to ban social media for under-15s from next year
Greece to ban social media for under-15s from next year
Greece is set to introduce a ban on social media access for children under 15, marking another step in the European Union’s growing efforts to limit young users’ exposure to online platforms. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted the initiative as a response to heightened concerns about anxiety and sleep disruptions among youth, citing the “addictive design” of social media as a key factor. The regulation will take effect in January of the following year.
Australia was the first nation globally to mandate that platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat remove accounts of users under 16 or risk significant fines. Similar measures are under consideration in countries such as France, Austria, and Spain, while the UK government has initiated a review to assess the feasibility of a comparable ban. Despite these actions, social media firms argue that comprehensive restrictions could be hard to implement and might inadvertently isolate teenagers who rely on digital tools.
Addressing mental health impacts
In a recent video message shared on TikTok, Mitsotakis stated,
“Many young people tell me they feel exhausted from comparisons, from comments, from the pressure to always be online.”
He noted that parents have reported their children experiencing poor sleep and anxiety, often remaining glued to their phones. The policy, labeled “difficult but necessary” by the prime minister, aims to curb the influence of platforms designed to maximize screen time, which he claims undermines children’s innocence and autonomy.
Further details on the enforcement mechanism will be revealed later this week. Mitsotakis also proposed that Greece advocate for a unified EU strategy, urging European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to support a common framework. This would include mandatory age checks for under-15s across all platforms, a continent-wide ban for that demographic, and periodic age verification every six months.
The discourse surrounding children’s social media usage has gained momentum recently, fueled by studies highlighting its adverse effects on mental well-being. In March, a landmark US case held Meta and YouTube accountable for a woman’s childhood dependency on social networks. Jurors concluded that the companies had deliberately crafted platforms to sustain user engagement, harming her psychological health. Meta and Google have expressed disagreement with the verdict, planning to challenge it through an appeal. Meta added,
“Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app.”
