Digital censorship era begins in Greece: Access ban for under-15s introduced

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that children aged 15 and under will be banned from accessing social media in the country starting January 1, 2027.

Citing rising rates of anxiety disorders in children, sleep problems, and addiction to online platforms as the reason for the ban, Mitsotakis stated, "We have decided to take a difficult but necessary step. Our goal is to push the European Union in this direction. I am sure many young children will be angry with me. If I were your age, perhaps I would feel the same way, but our role is not to be popular. I want to be honest with you. I have spoken with many parents in recent years, and they all tell me the same thing: their children do not sleep well, they get stressed easily, and they are constantly occupied with their mobile phones. Children's minds are not resting."

Just as in Greece, a new law passed by the Parliament in Turkey has also banned social media for those aged 15 and under.