Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the decision was informed by increasing reports of anxiety, sleep disruption, and the addictive nature of digital platforms among minors. The move positions Greece among the first European nations to adopt such sweeping restrictions, as governments worldwide grapple with the unintended consequences of social media use among younger populations.
Public Backing and Early Policy Steps
The proposed ban appears to have strong domestic support. A February opinion poll conducted by ALCO indicated that roughly 80 percent of respondents favor restricting children’s access to social media. This reflects a broader societal shift toward stricter digital safeguards for minors.
In recent years, the Greek government has already introduced measures aimed at reducing screen exposure among students, including banning mobile phone use in schools and rolling out parental control tools to help families manage teenagers’ online activity.
Aligning National Policy with European Action
Mitsotakis has emphasized that Greece’s initiative is not intended to stand alone. He is actively pushing for a coordinated approach across the European Union, arguing that fragmented national efforts may fall short against global tech platforms.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Greek leader proposed the introduction of a bloc-wide “digital age of majority” set at 15. His recommendations also include mandatory age verification systems, periodic re-verification of users, and a harmonized enforcement structure across member states.
The goal, he noted, is to have a unified regulatory framework in place by the end of 2026—before Greece’s own restrictions come into force.
Enforcement Challenges and Regulatory Tools
While Greece currently lacks the authority to directly compel platforms to verify users’ ages, it is encouraging companies to adopt existing mechanisms outlined within European regulatory frameworks. Central to enforcement will be the Digital Services Act, which allows for penalties of up to 6 percent of a company’s global turnover for non-compliance.
Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou indicated that platforms will be expected to implement effective user restrictions or face these financial consequences once the policy takes effect. The legislation underpinning the ban is expected to pass through parliament by mid-2026.
A Global Trend Toward Stricter Controls
Greece’s move follows similar action in Australia, which became the first nation to ban social media access for children under 16 in December. The policy applies to major platforms such as TikTok, Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube, and Meta Platforms’s Instagram and Facebook.
Although companies including Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of such bans, they have pledged to comply with regulatory requirements.
Elsewhere, countries such as the United Kingdom, Malaysia, France, Denmark, and Poland are either considering similar restrictions or actively drafting legislation, signaling a growing international consensus on the need for tighter digital protections for minors.
Balancing Protection and Practicality
Despite the momentum, officials acknowledge that national legislation alone may have limited impact without broader regional coordination. Greek State Minister Akis Skertsos noted that domestic laws are heavily influenced by EU frameworks, reinforcing the need for collective action at the European level.
As debates continue, Greece’s planned ban highlights a critical policy challenge of the digital age: how to protect young users from harm while navigating the technical, legal, and ethical complexities of regulating global online platforms.