Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced plans for the social media ban in April through a video posted on TikTok, describing the measure as “difficult but necessary” to protect children from the potential harms of excessive social media use.
Following a heated parliamentary debate that began on Thursday and continued into Friday, the ruling conservative New Democracy party used its parliamentary majority to pass the legislation. No other party supported the bill, according to the ANA news agency.
The opposition socialist PASOK party abstained from voting after proposing an alternative measure that would have prohibited social media use for children under 13 while requiring parental controls for users aged 13 and 14. Other left-wing and nationalist parties voted against the legislation.
The law, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, will require social media platforms to implement age-verification systems to prevent children under 15 from accessing their services. Companies that fail to comply could face substantial penalties.
Greece’s decision follows Australia’s introduction of a similar ban last year, which restricted social media access for children under 16. According to an international news agency’s tally, more than 20 countries have passed comparable laws.
Supporters of the restrictions argue that social media platforms use addictive algorithms to keep young users engaged for extended periods, potentially harming their mental health and well-being.
However, the proposed restrictions have also drawn criticism from free-speech advocates, while sceptics have questioned whether such bans can be effectively enforced.
