Greece to ban social media for under-15s from next year

Greece to Implement Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

Greece is set to introduce a regulation restricting social media access for minors aged under 15, marking another step in Europe’s efforts to limit children’s engagement with online platforms. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized the initiative as a response to growing concerns about youth mental health, citing rising issues like anxiety and sleep disturbances. The policy will take effect in January of next year, following a framework outlined on Wednesday.

Global Efforts to Regulate Digital Platforms

Australia became the first nation to enforce restrictions on social media platforms, mandating that TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and others remove accounts for users under 16 or face significant penalties. Other countries, including France, Austria, and Spain, are exploring comparable measures. The UK is currently evaluating a similar ban, while Ireland and Denmark are considering their own strategies.

“Many young people tell me they feel exhausted from comparisons, from comments, from the pressure to always be online,” Mitsotakis stated in a TikTok video. He highlighted concerns from parents about children’s sleep patterns and emotional well-being, noting that constant phone use has become a common issue.

While the government frames the ban as a necessary step, social media firms contend that broad restrictions may not address the root causes of digital dependency. They argue that such measures are hard to enforce and could inadvertently isolate teenagers who rely on these platforms for social interaction. Reddit has already taken legal action against Australia’s new law.

EU-Wide Advocacy and Proposed Guidelines

Mitsotakis also expressed support for a unified European approach, urging the European Commission to adopt a common framework to bolster national efforts. His proposals include mandatory age verification for all users under 15, a continent-wide ban on social media access for that demographic, and periodic re-evaluation of users’ ages every six months. The goal, he said, is to safeguard minors without stifling the benefits of technology.

The discourse on children’s social media use has gained momentum, fueled by evidence linking excessive online activity to adverse mental health effects. In March, a pivotal US case saw Meta and YouTube held accountable for a woman’s childhood addiction, with jurors concluding that the companies had designed platforms to maximize user engagement, often at the expense of well-being. Both Meta and Google have since announced their intent to appeal the ruling, asserting that teen mental health is influenced by many factors beyond individual apps.