Greece will ban social media for users under 15 years of age starting January 1, 2027. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the decision on Wednesday. He attributed the move to rising rates of anxiety and sleep problems, as well as the design of online platforms, which he said leads to addictive use. In a message to young people, Mitsotakis added that spending long hours in front of screens does not allow their minds to rest and exposes them to increasing pressure from constant comparison and online comments. He said he had spoken to many parents who reported sleep disturbances in their children, feelings of anxiety, and long hours spent on their phones. The Greek government has already banned mobile phones in schools and created platforms that allow parents to monitor their children and limit their screen time. Mitsotakis stated: "Greece will be one of the first countries to take such an initiative... and I am confident it will not be the last. Our goal is to encourage the European Union to take this path as well." Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for users under 16 in December. Companies like Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok have said they still believe the Australian ban will not protect minors, but they have committed to complying with it. Other countries are also tightening restrictions on social media, as the United Kingdom, Malaysia, France, Denmark, and Poland are considering or about to pass legislation to ban it. In a separate letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Mitsotakis called for coordinated action at the EU level, emphasizing that measures taken individually by each country will not be sufficient to protect minors from internet addiction.
