Greece to ban social media for children under 15 starting in 2027

Greece will block children under 15 from accessing social media starting 1 January next year, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced today, unveiling what he described as a tough but necessary step.

“We have decided to proceed with a difficult yet necessary measure: ban access to social media for children under 15 years old,” he said in a video posted on TikTok.

“Greece is one of the first countries in the world to adopt such a measure,” the prime minister said, adding that he intends to press the European Union to take similar action.

Mitsotakis said he chose social media for the announcement so he could speak directly to teenagers and children. “I know that some of you are going to be angry … Our aim is not to keep you away from technology but to combat addiction to certain applications that harms your innocence and your freedom.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis revealed the measure in a TikTok video

Australia in December became the first country in the world to require TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat and other major platforms to remove accounts held by under-16s or face steep fines.

Indonesia began enforcing a social media ban for users under the age of 16 in March and has already issued summons letters to Google and Meta over their failure to comply with the law.

Austria announced last month that it would soon ban social media for children up to the age of 14, with plans to present a new law “as early as this summer”.

Spain and Denmark have also said they intend to introduce a digital age of majority for social networks.

In Ireland, the Government has pushed for a decision at EU level but has said it will act at home if necessary.