Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 starting January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems, and the addictive design of online platforms. Reuters reports this, writes UNN.
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An ALCO poll published in February showed that about 80% of respondents support such a ban. The Greek government has already banned mobile phones in schools and created parental control platforms to limit the time teenagers spend in front of screens.
"Greece will be among the first countries to implement such an initiative," Mitsotakis said in a video address, adding that he consulted with parents before making the decision. "I am sure that this will not be the last country. Our goal is to guide the European Union in this direction."
Greece currently cannot force social media to verify users' ages, but it recommends that platforms use mechanisms already implemented in the EU and Greece, and advises parents to assist in this process.
From January 1, 2027, platforms will have to restrict user access or face fines provided for in the European Digital Services Act (DSA), which can amount to up to 6% of the company's global turnover, said Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou.
The Greek Parliament plans to adopt the ban law in mid-2026. Other countries are also tightening social media rules: the UK, Malaysia, France, Denmark, and Poland are considering or already preparing relevant legislation.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Mitsotakis called for EU-level coordination, noting that national measures alone would not be able to effectively protect minors from internet addiction.
In the letter, he proposed establishing a European "digital age of majority" at 15, implementing mandatory age verification and regular re-verification for all platforms, and creating a harmonized system of control and penalties, urging the bloc to introduce a unified system by the end of 2026.