Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from January 1, 2027, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announcing that formal legislation will be introduced in mid-2026, Reuters reported.
This decision makes Greece one of the first European countries to impose this restriction, highlighting increasing concern about social media’s impact on minors.
The move is based on concerns about rising anxiety, sleep disruption, and the addictive design of platforms among young users. Greek authorities state that extended screen time and online social pressures negatively affect children’s well-being.
The government has already taken steps by banning mobile phones in schools and implementing parental control tools to limit screen time.
Enforcement challenges and push for European Union (EU)-wide rules: Greece does not currently have the technical capacity to enforce age verification independently and will rely on mechanisms provided by the European Union’s Digital Services Act.
Under this framework, social media companies may face fines of up to 6% of their global turnover for non-compliance. Mitsotakis has stated that national measures alone may be insufficient without coordinated regional action. He has urged the European Union to adopt a unified framework, proposing a bloc-wide digital age of majority of 15, with standardized age-verification and enforcement mechanisms.
Part of a broader global trend: Greece’s decision is part of a global trend to restrict minors’ access to social media, as seen in Australia’s under-16 ban and similar proposals across Europe.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has proposed banning access to social media for users under 16. The proposal also includes mandatory age-verification systems and stricter platform accountability for harmful and manipulative content.
In India, policymakers have not yet introduced a nationwide ban but are actively exploring age-based restrictions. The Union government is in discussions with platforms on age limits, while states such as Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Karnataka are examining or proposing bans for users under 16.
Indian policy debates now address more than access restrictions, with proposals for mandatory identity verification (KYC), safety-by-design requirements, and stricter intermediary accountability. These measures reflect a broader regulatory approach to online harms.
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