Greece Bans Social Media for Under-15s to Combat Anxiety

Greece will ban social media access for individuals under the age of 15, starting in January. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the restriction aims to tackle rising anxiety and sleep problems among young people. He also cited the "addictive design" of social media platforms as a contributing factor.

Mitsotakis shared that many young people feel exhausted from comparisons, comments, and the pressure to always be online. He added that he had spoken with parents who said their children do not sleep well, are anxious, and are constantly on their phones.

Further details of the regulatory framework to enforce the ban will be outlined later. The government's goal is not to distance young people from technology, which "can be a source of inspiration, knowledge and creativity," according to Mitsotakis. He believes the addictive design of certain applications and a business model based on capturing attention takes away innocence and freedom.

Mitsotakis said Greece would push for action at a European level. He addressed a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for a common EU framework to "complement and reinforce the necessary national initiatives for the protection of minors." His proposals include mandatory age verification for under-15s across all platforms, a pan-European ban for that age group, and a requirement for platforms to re-check users' ages every six months.

Other European countries, including France and Spain, have taken similar measures. Australia requires TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat and other top sites to remove accounts held by under-16s, or face heavy fines. The UK government has launched a consultation on whether to implement a ban for under-16s, while Ireland and Denmark are considering similar measures.

Social media companies argue that blanket bans will be ineffective, difficult to enforce, and could isolate vulnerable teenagers. Reddit is challenging Australia's law in court. Meta said that "teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app."

In March, Meta and YouTube were found liable in a landmark US trial over a woman's childhood addiction to social media. Jurors concluded that Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and Google, the parent company of YouTube, had intentionally built addictive social media platforms that harmed her mental health. Meta and Google said they disagreed with the verdict and intended to appeal.

As Greece prepares to implement the ban, parents should begin conversations with their children about responsible technology use and alternative activities to mitigate potential feelings of isolation.