Greece to ban social media for under-15s from 2027, calls for EU-wide action
Greece will ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 beginning Jan 1, 2027, as concerns grow over rising anxiety, sleep disruption, and the addictive design of online platforms.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the decision was shaped by conversations with parents, with an earlier survey showing nearly 80 per cent public support for the move.
The country has already taken steps to limit digital exposure among young people, including banning mobile phones in schools and introducing parental control tools.
Still, the issue remains complex, particularly as social media continues to play a central role in how teenagers connect, communicate, and form their identity.
Mitsotakis said Greece aims to be among the first countries to take such action, while urging the European Union to adopt a coordinated approach.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he proposed setting a unified “digital age of majority” at 15, alongside stricter age verification and enforcement across platforms, noting that national measures alone may not be sufficient.
The move follows similar efforts globally, including Australia’s ban on social media access for children under 16, while countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Malaysia, Denmark, and Poland are considering or drafting related legislation.
However, major platforms including Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok have maintained that bans alone may not fully address the risks faced by young users, even as they commit to complying with regulations.
From 2027, platforms operating in Greece could face penalties under the European Union’s Digital Services Act if they fail to comply with restrictions, with fines reaching up to 6 per cent of global turnover. Greece’s parliament is expected to legislate the ban by mid-2026.
As governments move towards tighter controls, the broader conversation continues to centre not just on access, but on how families navigate a digital world that remains deeply embedded in everyday life.
Source: Reuters
