Published: April 10, 2026
By India McCarty
Greece is officially banning children under 15 from using social media, starting in 2027.
“Greece will be among the first countries to take such an initiative,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a recent social media video. “I am certain, however, that it will not be the last. Our goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well.”
He described the measures as “difficult, but necessary,” adding, “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.”
Related: Lawmakers Around The World Take Action To Protect Children From Social Media
Greece isn’t the only country taking extreme steps to protect young people from the dangers of social media.
In January, French lawmakers approved a bill that bans social media for those under 15, as well as prohibits cell phone use in high schools.
“Banning social media for those under 15: this is what scientists recommend, and this is what the French people are overwhelmingly calling for,” French President Emmanuel Macron said after the vote, per PBS. “Because our children’s brains are not for sale — neither to American platforms nor to Chinese networks. Because their dreams must not be dictated by algorithms.”
The UK government is also running a trial social media ban for under-16s, with bans ranging from curfews to time limit caps on specific apps. The trials will take place with 300 teenagers living across the country.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said, “We are determined to give young people the childhood they deserve and to prepare them for the future. This is why we are listening to parents, children and experts with our consultation, as well as testing different options in the real world. These pilots will give us the evidence we need to take the next steps, informed by the experiences of families themselves.”
Australia announced a social media ban for children under 16 as well, with prime minister Anthony Albanese saying at a press conference, “I’ve spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They like me are worried sick about the safety of our kids online. And I want Australian parents and families to know that the government has your back. I want parents to be able to say, ‘Sorry mate, that’s against the law for me to get you to do this.’”
Greece is just one of many countries who are taking steps to protect young people from the dangers of social media.
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