Greece Plans to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15 Starting January 2027

Greece announced plans to ban social media use for children under 15 starting January 1, 2027. The government cited concerns about anxiety, addictive platform design, and the mental health effects of social media on young people.

Greek officials said they are also pushing for broader European Union action on age verification to enforce similar restrictions across member states. The move follows Australia's decision in November 2025 to ban social media for users under 16, and provisions in the UK's Online Safety Act targeting underage access.

Research published in Nature Human Behaviour in 2026 found moderate negative associations between social media use and well-being among adolescent girls, though not boys. The findings have added to calls for regulatory action in multiple countries.

Greece's announcement puts pressure on social media platforms to develop more effective age verification systems. Current methods, which typically rely on self-reported birth dates, are widely considered inadequate.

The EU's Digital Services Act already requires platforms to take steps to protect minors, but enforcement has been inconsistent. Greece is calling for a unified EU-wide standard that would require platforms to verify users' ages before granting access.

Social media companies have pushed back against age bans, arguing that they are difficult to enforce and may push young users toward less regulated platforms. Some companies have proposed alternative measures such as parental controls and time limits.

Mental health advocates in Greece welcomed the announcement. They said the ban, combined with digital literacy education, could help reduce the negative effects of social media on young people's mental health and academic performance.