Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced Wednesday that the government will implement a national ban on social media access for children under the age of 15. The measure is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Mitsotakis justified the move by pointing to the negative impacts of online platforms on youth development. He specifically cited rising levels of anxiety among teenagers, chronic sleep deprivation, and the addictive design features inherent in modern social media applications.
Addressing the digital impact on youth
Public health experts have long debated the influence of algorithmic feeds on adolescent mental health. By setting a hard age limit, the Greek government aims to curb exposure to content that officials argue disrupts the physical and psychological well-being of the country's youth.
While the administration has not yet detailed the specific technical enforcement mechanisms, the decision represents one of the most stringent national policies regarding youth social media usage to date. The move signals a shift in governmental policy toward regulating the digital environment for minors rather than relying solely on parental supervision.
The announcement comes as international scrutiny of social media companies intensifies. Lawmakers in several other jurisdictions are currently evaluating similar age-gating requirements to limit the influence of platforms on younger users. The Greek government intends to utilize the time before the 2027 deadline to finalize the regulatory framework for implementation.
