Greece has become the latest country to reform its social media policies with a ban set to come into effect next year.

The move has come as other countries, including the UK, look at updating regulation for social media to curb access for young people. Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis has suggested he hopes that this change will help tackle the addictive nature of social media platforms, anxiety and sleep issues for Greece’s young citizens. 

Feedback on the proposal was widely accepted in Greece with a poll conducted by ALCO in February showing approximately 80% of respondents approved of the ban. 

As of January 2027, under-15s in Greece will be subject to mandatory age-verification on all social media platforms and platforms will be required to run routine 6-monthly age checks on users. Greece has been ahead of the curve on managing digital use for young people, already banning mobile phones in schools and setting up parental control platforms to limit young people’s screen time.

Social media companies have criticised new reforms, suggesting blanket bans will be ineffective and difficult to enforce – but have agreed to comply. Platforms will have to enforce these restrictions or could face fines of up to 6% of their global turnover, as laid out in the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), due to be updated this Summer to reflect the upcoming changes. 

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In his update, shared via social media platform TikTok – a platform who he knows this effected audience use – Mitsotakis said: “Many young people tell me they feel exhausted from comparisons, from comments, from the pressure to always be online.

He continued, “[technology] can be a source of inspiration, knowledge and creativity”, but argued, “the addictive design of certain applications, and a business model based on capturing your attention – on how long you stay in front of a screen – takes away your innocence and your freedom. That has to stop somewhere.”

While Mitsotakis has taken decisive action in Greece, he called for the EU to have a broader, more joined-up approach to policing social media. He suggested an EU-wide framework would “complement and reinforce the necessary national initiatives for the protection of minors”.

The UK consultation remains open for citizens to have their say on local social media reform.