Greece has announced plans to ban access to social media for under-15s, becoming the latest European country to restrict children's exposure to online platforms.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that the move was aimed at tackling rising anxiety and sleep problems among young people, as well as what he described as the 'addictive design' of social media.
The restriction will come into force from January of next year.
In December, Australia became the first country in the world to require TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and other top sites to remove accounts held by under-16s, or face heavy fines. France, Austria, and Spain are among a growing number of nations pursuing similar curbs.
The UK government has launched a consultation on whether to implement a ban for under-16s, while Ireland and Denmark are considering similar measures.
Social media companies argue that blanket bans will be ineffective, difficult to enforce, and could isolate vulnerable teenagers. Reddit is challenging Australia's law in court.
In a video message posted on TikTok on Wednesday, Mitsotakis commented: 'Many young people tell me they feel exhausted from comparisons, from comments, from the pressure to always be online.'
He had spoken with parents who noted that their children do not sleep well, are anxious, and are always on their phones.
Calling the planned restriction 'difficult but necessary', he emphasized that the goal was not to distance young people from technology but rather to address the negative impacts of its addictive design.
'But the addictive design of certain applications, and a business model based on capturing your attention - on how long you stay in front of a screen - takes away your innocence and your freedom. That has to stop somewhere.'
Further details of the regulatory framework to enforce the ban will be outlined later on.
Mitsotakis further stated that Greece would push for action at a European level, calling for a common EU framework that complements national initiatives for the protection of minors. His proposals include mandatory age verification for under-15s across all platforms and a pan-European ban for that age group.
The debate over children's use of social media has intensified, driven by growing evidence of its harmful effects on mental health. In March, a trial in the US found Meta and YouTube liable for a woman’s childhood addiction to social media, concluding that these companies had intentionally created harmful platforms.
Both companies have indicated their plans to appeal the verdict, with Meta asserting that teen mental health issues cannot be attributed to a single app.
