Greece to Ban Social Media for Under-15s from 2027

ATHENS, Greece — Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on April 8 that Greece will prohibit children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms starting January 1, 2027, in an effort to address concerns over mental health and addiction among young users.

In a video message directed at young people and posted on TikTok, Mitsotakis described the measure as "a difficult but necessary" step. He highlighted reports from parents about their children experiencing sleep disturbances, heightened anxiety, and excessive screen time. "Children spending long hours in front of screens do not allow their minds to rest and face growing pressure from constant comparison and online comments," Mitsotakis said. He emphasized that the policy aims to combat the addictive design of online platforms rather than technology as a whole, noting that science shows prolonged exposure prevents the brain from resting.

The announcement follows existing government initiatives to curb youth screen use, including a ban on mobile phones in schools and the development of parental control tools to limit teenagers' access. An opinion poll conducted by ALCO in February indicated strong public...