A move by Greece to tighten rules on how minors engage with online platforms is set to reshape digital access for young users, with authorities preparing to bar those under 15 from using social media starting next year as concerns grow over their wellbeing and online habits.
The policy was outlined by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who said the measure is aimed at addressing increasing reports of stress, anxiety, and disrupted sleep among teenagers linked to heavy social media use.
He noted that many platforms are built in ways that encourage prolonged engagement, a pattern he described as harmful for younger users. The restriction is expected to take effect in January.
Greece’s plan places it among a widening group of countries that are rethinking children’s access to digital platforms. In Australia, authorities have already required platforms including TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face financial penalties. Similar discussions are ongoing in France, Austria and Spain, where policymakers are weighing stricter age controls.
In the United Kingdom, a consultation process is underway to assess whether a comparable ban should be introduced for under-16s. At the same time, Ireland and Denmark are reviewing possible approaches to limit minors’ exposure to social media.
Technology companies, however, have raised concerns about such restrictions, arguing that broad bans may be difficult to enforce and may not fully achieve their intended goals.
Some also warn that limiting access could unintentionally cut off communication channels that vulnerable teenagers rely on. Reddit has already challenged Australia’s regulation through legal action.
Speaking in a video message shared on TikTok, Mitsotakis said: "Many young people tell me they feel exhausted from comparisons, from comments, from the pressure to always be online."
He added that conversations with parents have highlighted concerns about children spending excessive time on their phones, struggling with sleep, and showing signs of anxiety.
Describing the initiative as "difficult but necessary", he emphasized that the intention is not to discourage young people from using technology altogether. He pointed out that digital tools can still support learning, creativity, and access to information.
"But the addictive design of certain applications, and a business model based on capturing your attention - on how long you stay in front of a screen - takes away your innocence and your freedom. That has to stop somewhere."
Authorities are expected to release more details on how the restriction will be implemented in the coming days.
Greece is also seeking to expand the discussion beyond its borders by encouraging coordinated action across the European Union. In a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, Mitsotakis proposed a shared framework that would strengthen national efforts to protect minors online.
His suggestions include mandatory age verification for users under 15 across platforms, a region-wide restriction for that age group, and regular checks to confirm user ages at set intervals.
The debate over children’s interaction with social media has gained momentum globally, driven by growing concern over its effects on mental health. In the United States, a recent court case found Meta and Google liable in a lawsuit involving claims of social media addiction linked to harm suffered by a user during childhood.
The court concluded that Meta, which operates Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, along with Google, the parent company of YouTube, had designed their platforms in ways that contributed to the user’s mental health challenges.
Both companies disagreed with the outcome and said they would appeal. Meta maintained: "Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app."
