Athens, Greece. Greece is expected in the coming days to announce a social media ban for children under 15, amid growing concerns about addiction and online abuse. The move would follow steps taken by other countries seeking to limit minors’ access to social platforms.
Parents seek stronger limits on children’s social media use
Greek mother Georgia Efstathiou said she has tried talks, internet-free time and confiscating her 14-year-old son’s phone to curb his social media use, but arguments have continued. “Ban them, shut them down. We’ve reached our limits… We parents need help,” said Efstathiou, 43, speaking in her living room in Athens while holding her son’s mobile phone.
Public support and existing measures
An opinion poll by ALCO published in February showed about 80% of those surveyed approved of a ban. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government has already outlawed mobile phones in schools and set up parental control platforms to limit teenagers’ screen time.
Government position and international comparisons
The government has declined comment on the ban or when and how it will be implemented. Reuters reported on the plan in February and sources said a formal announcement is pending. Last month, Mitsotakis told a Greek-Australian newspaper that Greece will move “in a similar direction to that of Australia,” where social media companies were ordered in December to keep out users under 16 or face fines.
Rising complaints and helpline data
Greece, like countries worldwide, is dealing with the impact of platforms such as Meta’s Instagram META.O, TikTok and online gaming services. At the EU-funded Greek Safer Internet Centre in Athens, calls to a helpline supporting child victims of cyberbullying more than doubled between 2024 and 2025, according to George Kormas, who runs the helpline. Other complaints include blackmail of minors, misinformation and hate speech.
According to the helpline’s data, 75% of children using social media in Greece are of primary-school age. “This undoubtedly worries us, because they cannot handle social media or protect themselves,” Kormas said.
How would a social media ban for children under 15 affect your family’s online habits?
