\n<\/p>\n
Greece has announced a social media ban for under-15s from 1 January, with the country\u2019s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms \u2013 although he acknowledged it may incur the wrath of some children.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have decided to go ahead with a difficult but necessary measure: ban access to social media for children under 15 years old,\u201d he said in a TikTok video intended to address a young audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur intention is not to remove you from technology, which can be a source of inspiration, of knowledge, of creativity \u2026 [But] science is clear: When a child spends hours in front of a screen its mind gets no rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 300-seat parliament, which is controlled by Mitsotakis\u2019s centre-right New Democracy party, is expected to vote in the ban this summer. Greece will be among the first countries in Europe<\/a> to adopt such legislation. Last year, the government outlawed mobile phones in schools and set up parental control platforms to help protect children from excessive screen time.<\/p>\n Mitsotakis said he had conferred with parents after a litany of complaints about cyber-bulling and children becoming increasingly addicted to apps.<\/p>\n In January, France began passing similar legislation, the second country to take such a step after Australia announced<\/a> it was blocking more than 4.7m social media accounts for under-16s in December. Spain, Malaysia, Denmark and Poland either considering a ban or in the process of legislating one.<\/p>\n In February, a survey released by the Greek polling company ALCO showed overwhelming endorsement for the crackdown.<\/p>\n Majorities of up to 79% across half a dozen European countries also support banning under-16s from social media, a YouGov poll has revealed \u2013 even if people differ significantly in their view of how effective such moves can be.<\/p>\n The survey of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK showed approval for restrictions was highest in France, where the government hopes a ban on social media for under-15s will be law by the start of the 2026-27 school year.<\/p>\n