Greece will ban social media for children under 15 starting January 1, 2027.
The policy was announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday, as part of efforts to address growing concerns about children’s mental health and screen addiction.
He said excessive use of social media is affecting young people’s wellbeing.
“Science is clear: when a child is in front of screens for hours, their brain does not rest,” Mitsotakis said.
He also warned that constant online comparison and pressure from social media are adding to stress among children.
According to him, many parents have reported problems such as poor sleep, anxiety and heavy phone use among teenagers.
A recent ALCO poll showed around 80% of people support restricting social media use for children. Greece has already banned mobile phones in schools and introduced parental control tools to limit screen time.
ALSO READ: Austria to ban social media for children under 14
Mitsotakis said the country’s move could influence other European nations.
“Greece will be among the first countries to take such an initiative,” he said. “I am certain, however, that it will not be the last.”
The policy is part of a wider global trend. Australia has already introduced strict underage social media rules, while Indonesia is also enforcing similar restrictions.
Other countries, including Spain and Austria, are considering similar laws as concerns over children’s online safety continue to grow.