ISLAMABAD: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that children under the age of 15 will be prohibited from accessing social media platforms starting January 1, 2027.
Describing the move as “difficult but necessary,” Mitsotakis said the decision aims to tackle growing concerns over digital addiction among young users. He made the announcement through a video on TikTok, explaining that he wanted to communicate directly with teenagers and children.
Acknowledging that the policy may face resistance, he said the intention is not to restrict access to technology altogether, but to address the harmful effects of excessive use of certain applications. He emphasised that prolonged screen time can negatively affect children’s mental development, noting that “when a child is in front of screens for hours, their brain does not rest.”
Strict rules
Mitsotakis added that Greece is among the first countries to introduce such a restriction and said he would encourage the European Union to adopt similar measures.
The move comes amid a growing global push to regulate social media use among minors. Australia became the first country to enforce strict rules requiring major platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to remove accounts held by users under 16 or face significant penalties.
Indonesia has also begun implementing a ban for users under 16, taking action against major tech companies for failing to comply. Meanwhile, Austria is preparing legislation to restrict social media access for children under 14, with a proposal expected soon. Spain and Denmark have likewise signalled plans to introduce age-based restrictions for social media use.
