Greece Moves Toward Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

Casablanca – Greece is expected to announce a ban on social media use for children under 15 in the coming days, as the government moves closer to some of the toughest child online safety rules now emerging across Europe and beyond.

The planned measure follows months of mounting concern from parents, schools, and child protection experts who say young teenagers are increasingly unable to disconnect from apps like Instagram, TikTok, and online gaming platforms. For some families, the struggle has become constant.

In Athens, 43-year-old mother Georgia Efstathiou told Reuters she has tried everything to reduce her 14-year-old son’s screen time, from long talks to taking away his phone, often leading to arguments at home. She said parents have reached their limits and need help.

Public support appears strong. A February ALCO poll found around 80% of respondents supported a ban.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has already banned mobile phones in schools and introduced parental control tools aimed at limiting teenagers’ screen use. While the government has not commented on timing or enforcement, Reuters previously reported that a formal announcement was pending.

The move would place Greece alongside countries such as Australia, where platforms were ordered in December to block users under 16 or face fines reaching US$34.7 million. Austria, France, Spain, Poland, and Slovenia are also advancing similar age restrictions, while the European Parliament has backed a non-binding call for a minimum age of 16.

Greek experts say the concerns are no longer theoretical. At the EU-funded Greek Safer Internet Centre in Athens, calls to a cyberbullying helpline more than doubled between 2024 and 2025, according to helpline head George Kormas. The center’s data shows 75% of children using social media in Greece are still in primary school.

Athanasios Theocharis, who leads the country’s addiction prevention body, said about 48% of teenagers report feeling the negative effects of social media.

Not everyone is convinced a state ban is the right answer. Some parents told Reuters they would rather manage phone use at home, while others worry teenagers will simply find ways around the rules.

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