Greece bans social media use for children under 15

Greece’s parliament has approved legislation prohibiting children under the age of 15 from using social media, with the new restrictions scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

The bill was passed on Friday by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s ruling New Democracy party, which relied on its parliamentary majority to secure approval.

No other political party supported the legislation during a heated debate that began on Thursday, despite a growing international movement towards restricting minors’ access to social media.

Under the new law, social media platforms will be required to verify users’ ages and face severe penalties if they fail to comply with the rules.

Mitsotakis announced plans for the restriction in April, using TikTok, a platform popular among young people in Greece, to explain what he described as a “difficult but necessary” step by his government.

The opposition socialist PASOK party abstained from the vote after proposing a different approach. Its alternative bill would have prohibited social media use by children under 13 while requiring parental controls for those aged 13 and 14.

With the legislation, Greece joins a growing number of countries seeking to limit young people’s access to social media. About 20 countries have introduced or are considering restrictions, including Australia, France, Brazil, Indonesia, Austria, Denmark and the United Kingdom.

Supporters of such measures argue that social media platforms use addictive algorithms to keep children engaged for extended periods, raising concerns about excessive screen time and its potential effects on mental health.

However, the restrictions have also attracted criticism, with opponents questioning how effectively age limits can be enforced and whether the bans will achieve their intended objectives.