Greece has announced a plan to ban the use of social media for children under 15, starting January 1, in an effort to protect their mental health and well-being.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared the measure "difficult but necessary," citing increased anxiety, sleep problems and the negative impact of excessive screen use on children.
He stressed that the goal is not to remove children from technology, but to limit its excessive use. According to him, studies show that spending too much time in front of a screen directly affects the development and rest of children's minds.
The bill is expected to be voted on this summer in the Greek parliament and, if approved, would make Greece one of the first countries in Europe to take such a step. Previously, the government has banned the use of phones in schools and created platforms for parental control.
The initiative comes after widespread concerns about cyberbullying and social media addiction, while polls show widespread public support for such measures.
Meanwhile, other countries such as France and Australia have taken similar steps, while several European states are considering similar restrictions. Athens also aims to address the issue at the European level, calling for standardization of age verification by 2027.
