Greece to Block Social Media for Under-15s to Boost Kids' Wellbeing

Greece has announced that it will ban social media for children under the age of 15 starting next year. The government says this decision is meant to help young people who are experiencing more anxiety and sleep problems, which they believe are linked to social media use. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis explained that social media platforms are designed to be addictive, making it hard for kids to stop using them. He said that many young people feel tired from always comparing themselves to others and from the pressure to be online all the time. Parents have also told him that their children are not sleeping well and are constantly on their phones. The new rule will begin in January, and Greece will become one of the first countries in Europe to have such a ban.

Other countries are also taking steps to limit social media use among children. Australia was the first country to require companies like TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat to remove accounts for users under 16, or else face large fines. France, Austria, and Spain are also considering similar restrictions. Ireland and Denmark are still deciding if they will make these changes. However, social media companies argue that these bans might not work as planned. They say it will be difficult to enforce the rules and that some teenagers who need support might feel even more isolated if they cannot use social media. Reddit, for example, is challenging Australia’s law in court.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis said that the goal is not to keep young people away from technology, which can be a great source of inspiration and learning. Instead, he wants to stop the addictive features of some apps that keep kids glued to their screens. He believes that these features can take away children’s innocence and freedom. The government will share more details about how the ban will work soon. Greece also wants the European Union to create a common rule for all countries to protect minors. Mitsotakis wrote a letter to the European Commission President, asking for a Europe-wide ban for under-15s and for all platforms to check users’ ages every six months. The debate about social media and children has become more serious because of new evidence showing that social media can harm mental health. In one case, a jury found that companies like Meta and Google had made their platforms addictive and that this hurt a young girl’s mental health. Meta and Google disagreed with the decision and said they would appeal. They also said that mental health is complicated and cannot be blamed on just one app. Still, many people believe it is important to protect children from the negative effects of social media.