Greece is set to ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 from January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing concerns over rising anxiety, sleep disturbances, and the addictive nature of online platforms.

In a video message posted on TikTok, PM Mitsotakis said, "We have decided to go ahead with a difficult but necessary measure: ban access to social media for children under 15 years old."

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'80% Those Surveyed Supported Ban': Study

The Prime Minister said many parents have reported that their children do not sleep well, become anxious, and spend excessive time on their phones. An opinion poll released by ALCO in February showed about 80 per cent of respondents supported a ban on social media access for minors.

The Greek government had already prohibited mobile phones in schools and set up parental control tools to regulate teenagers' screen time.

"Greece will be among the first countries to take such an initiative," Mitsotakis said, adding, "I am certain, however, that it will not be the last. Our goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well."

Mitsotakis Calls For Coordinated EU Action

In a letter to European Commission President Ursula ⁠von der Leyen, Mitsotakis called for coordinated European Union action, stressing that national initiatives alone would not be sufficient to protect minors from internet addiction.

The Prime Minister further proposed establishing an EU-wide 'digital age ⁠of majority' at 15, mandating age verification and re-verification for all platforms, creating a harmonised enforcement and penalty framework. Mitsotakis urged the bloc to establish a unified system by the end of 2026.

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Australia - World's First Country To Ban Social Media For Children

In December 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to ban access to social media for children under the age of 16, blocking access to platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta's Instagram and Facebook.

Apart from Australia, other nations are also tightening restrictions on social media, with the United Kingdom, Malaysia, France, Denmark, and Poland either considering a similar ban or actively working to legislate them.