Trending Now - Greece Joins Growing Trend to Restrict Social Media for Teens
WHO:
Fast Company - Mitsotakis addressed concerns about children feeling constant comparisons and spending long hours scrolling through their phones.
Deadline - Greece's Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announced the ban.
Fast Company - Mitsotakis addressed Greece’s young people in a video announcement.
Fast Company - Ursula von der Leyen is the President of the European Commission.
WHAT:
BBC News - Greece's Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, confirmed the ban on social media for children under 15 years old will be implemented to tackle the "addictive design" of social media.
TechCrunch - The ban aims to reduce pressures and risks that young users may face on social media, including cyberbullying, social media addiction, and exposure to predators.
Fast Company - Mitsotakis sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen detailing Greece’s plans for a “unified European framework” on social media restrictions.
Deadline - Greece plans to ban social media for individuals under 15 years old.
Fast Company - The ban will be implemented starting on January 1, 2027.
Fast Company - Greece joins 10 countries that have already restricted social media use for young people.
Fast Company - Australia became the first country to ban social media for people under 16 on December 10, 2025.
Fast Company - The European Union has proposed requiring parental consent for young people aged 13 to 15.
WHERE:
Deadline - The announcement was made in Greece.
Fast Company - The letter regarding the ban was sent to the European Commission, based in Brussels, Belgium.
WHEN:
Deadline - The ban will take effect on January 1, 2027.
Fast Company - The announcement was made on April 8, 2026.
Fast Company - The proposal for a unified European framework is aimed to be completed by the end of 2026.
Fast Company - The vote in the European Parliament occurred in November 2025.
WHY:
Fast Company - Mitsotakis cited concerns about children feeling constant comparisons and spending long hours scrolling through their phones as part of the rationale for the ban.
Fast Company - Mitsotakis cited issues such as children not allowing their minds to rest as part of the rationale for the ban.
Deadline - The ban aims to tackle the "addictive design" of social media.
Fast Company - Mitsotakis cited concerns about problems sleeping, increasing anxiety, and the impact of social media on children's mental health.
HOW:
Fast Company - Mitsotakis proposed a standard age-verification system with repeated verification every six months.
Fast Company - Mitsotakis proposed a standard age-verification system with repeated verification every six months.
Fast Company - He suggested establishing a European "digital age of majority" at 15 years old for social media use.
(UPDATED April 8, 2026 21:11 UTC)
Greece's Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has confirmed that a ban on social media for children under 15 years old will be implemented to address the "addictive design" of these platforms. The ban aims to reduce the pressures and risks young users face, including cyberbullying, social media addiction, and exposure to predators. Mitsotakis highlighted concerns about children experiencing constant comparisons and spending excessive time scrolling through their phones as key reasons for this decision.
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(UPDATED April 8, 2026 17:23 UTC)
Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis has sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlining Greece’s plans for a unified European framework on social media restrictions. He expressed concerns about children feeling constant comparisons and spending excessive time on their phones, which he believes prevents their minds from resting. To address these issues, Mitsotakis proposed a standard age-verification system that would require repeated verification every six months.
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(UPDATED April 8, 2026 15:23 UTC)
Greece's Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announced on Wednesday, that the country plans to implement a ban on social media for individuals under 15 years old, starting January 1stst, 2027. This decision aims to address concerns about the addictive design of social media and its negative impact on children's mental health, including issues like sleep problems and increasing anxiety. Mitsotakis proposed a standard age-verification system with checks every six months, as Greece joins ten other countries that have already restricted social media use for young people.