Greece has announced plans to ban access to social media for under-15s, becoming the latest European country to restrict children's exposure to online platforms. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that the move is aimed at tackling rising anxiety and sleep problems among young people, as well as what he described as the 'addictive design' of social media. The restriction will come into force from January of next year.
In December, Australia became the first country in the world to require TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and other top sites to remove accounts held by under-16s or face heavy fines. France, Austria, and Spain are among a growing number of nations pursuing similar curbs.
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.
In a video message posted on TikTok on Wednesday, Mitsotakis expressed concern for young people feeling exhausted from comparisons, comments, and constant online presence. He shared feedback from parents discussing their children's struggles with sleep and anxiety due to excessive phone use.
Calling the planned restriction 'difficult but necessary,' he emphasized that the goal was not to distance young people from technology but to protect their innocence and freedom from the addictive nature of certain applications. Mitsotakis is advocating for European-wide regulations, including mandatory age verification for under-15s across platforms, a pan-European ban for that age group, and routine re-checking of user ages.
The debate over children's use of social media has intensified recently, spurred by mounting evidence linking these platforms to negative mental health outcomes. Notably, Meta and YouTube faced legal ramifications in a recent US trial, being found culpable for a woman's childhood addiction to their platforms, as jurors concluded that these companies had intentionally crafted addictive experiences that harmed mental health.
In December, Australia became the first country in the world to require TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and other top sites to remove accounts held by under-16s or face heavy fines. France, Austria, and Spain are among a growing number of nations pursuing similar curbs.
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.
In a video message posted on TikTok on Wednesday, Mitsotakis expressed concern for young people feeling exhausted from comparisons, comments, and constant online presence. He shared feedback from parents discussing their children's struggles with sleep and anxiety due to excessive phone use.
Calling the planned restriction 'difficult but necessary,' he emphasized that the goal was not to distance young people from technology but to protect their innocence and freedom from the addictive nature of certain applications. Mitsotakis is advocating for European-wide regulations, including mandatory age verification for under-15s across platforms, a pan-European ban for that age group, and routine re-checking of user ages.
The debate over children's use of social media has intensified recently, spurred by mounting evidence linking these platforms to negative mental health outcomes. Notably, Meta and YouTube faced legal ramifications in a recent US trial, being found culpable for a woman's childhood addiction to their platforms, as jurors concluded that these companies had intentionally crafted addictive experiences that harmed mental health.
