Greece bans social media for children under 15
Photo: REUTERS
Greek parliament enacted new legislation banning individuals under the age of 15 from using social media.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s New Democracy leveraged its parliamentary majority to pass the bill on Friday. No other political parties supported the measure during an intense debate that opened on Thursday, even as a growing coalition of nations globally implements restrictions targeting minors.
Greece’s new laws will officially take effect on 1 January 2027, requiring social media platforms to enforce age verification while subjecting non-compliant tech companies to harsh penalties.
Mitsotakis originally announced plans for the ban in April, utilizing TikTok - one of the most popular social networks among Greek youth - to explain the “difficult but necessary” measure his administration intended to execute.
The opposition socialist PASOK party abstained from the vote after advocating for a rival proposal that sought a complete social media ban for children under 13 alongside mandated parental controls for 13- and 14-year-olds.
This statutory move aligns Greece with around 20 countries restricting youth access to social media applications, joining nations such as Australia, France, Brazil, Indonesia, Austria, Denmark, and the UK that have introduced or planned similar boundaries.
Critics contend that social networks deploy addictive algorithms to glue children to their screens, warning that excessive scrolling severely damages their mental health. However, these prohibitions also encounter pushback, as observers raise persistent questions concerning their practical enforcement and ultimate effectiveness.
Source: Al Jazeera (adapted)
