Greece to Ban Social Media Access for Children Under 15 by 2027

Greece will ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 starting January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday, describing the move as a necessary step to protect young users from the harmful effects of excessive screen time.

“We have decided to go ahead with a difficult but necessary measure: ban access to social media for children under 15 years old,” Mitsotakis said in a video message posted on TikTok. He added that Greece would be among the first countries to implement such restrictions and pledged to push the European Union to adopt similar policies across the bloc.

The prime minister said he chose to make the announcement on social media to communicate directly with younger audiences. “I know that some of you are going to be angry,” he said. “Our aim is not to keep you away from technology but to combat addiction to certain applications that harms your innocence and your freedom.”

Mitsotakis pointed to scientific findings linking excessive screen time to negative effects on children’s development. “Science is clear: when a child is in front of screens for hours, their brain does not rest,” he said, underlining the government’s concern over mental health and cognitive well-being.

The planned ban reflects a growing global trend of governments introducing stricter regulations on social media use among minors. Australia became the first country in December to require platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat to remove accounts held by users under 16 or face significant fines.

Other countries have taken similar steps. Indonesia began enforcing a ban on social media use for those under 16 in March and has already issued summons letters to major technology companies, including Google and Meta, over non-compliance. In Europe, Austria announced plans to introduce a ban for children up to 14, with legislation expected as early as this summer. Spain and Denmark have also signaled intentions to establish a minimum age requirement for social media access.

While the Greek government has yet to outline the full enforcement mechanism, the policy is expected to involve cooperation with technology companies to verify user ages and restrict access accordingly. Experts say such measures could prove challenging to implement but reflect increasing concern among policymakers about the impact of digital platforms on younger generations.

The announcement is likely to spark debate among parents, educators, and technology firms about the balance between protecting children and preserving access to digital tools. As more countries consider similar measures, Greece’s decision could play a significant role in shaping future regulations across Europe.