Greece will ban social media access for children under 15 from 2027, as PM Mitsotakis pushes strict rules to curb digital addiction

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Wednesday, announced in Athens that Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 years old starting January 1, 2027, in a major policy move aimed at curbing digital addiction among minors.

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The Greece social media ban under 15 decision was disclosed in a video message posted on TikTok, where the prime minister directly addressed young users and defended the policy as both “difficult but necessary.”

Mitsotakis said the measure places Greece among the first countries globally to adopt such restrictions, adding that his government would also push the European Union to consider similar regulations.

He explained that the aim is not to restrict technology use entirely but to reduce dependency on social media platforms that he said can affect children’s development and wellbeing.

“I know that some of you are going to be angry,” he said, while stressing that the policy targets excessive screen time rather than digital engagement itself.

According to him, scientific evidence shows that prolonged exposure to screens can affect children’s cognitive rest and overall mental health.

The Greece social media ban under 15 plan aligns with a growing global trend, as several countries introduce stricter digital age restrictions for minors.

Australia recently became the first country to require platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face penalties.

Indonesia has also begun enforcing similar restrictions, while Austria, Spain and Denmark have announced plans to introduce comparable digital age laws.

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The Greek government says its policy is part of a broader effort to protect children from online addiction while encouraging healthier technology use.