Just one week after a similar move by Australia, Greece announced that it will ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 from January 1, 2027, as governments around the world weigh tougher rules amid growing concerns over mental health, safety and screen addiction.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the ban on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.
From January 1 2027, platforms will need to be able to restrict users or face fines described in the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) reaching up to 6% of their global turnover, Greek Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou said.
Other countries are also tightening rules on social media with the United Kingdom, Malaysia, France, Denmark and Poland either considering a ban or in the process of legislating one.
Australia became the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December, blocking access to platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's GOOGL.O YouTube and Meta's META.O Instagram and Facebook.
Meta, Snapchat and TikTok have said they continued to believe Australia's ban would not protect young people but committed to complying with it.
The adopted one of the world’s toughest social media regulations, forcing major platforms to block users under 16. Companies that fail to comply face fines of up to A$49.5 million.
“Today, we can announce that this is working,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, calling the law “world leading” and a “source of Australian pride.”
Indonesia will restrict access to social media platforms for children under 16, its communications and digital ministry said on Friday (6 March).
Starting 28 March, accounts owned by children under 16 on "high risk platforms" will be gradually deactivated, Indonesia's Communications and Digital Minister said, adding the platforms include TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Roblox.
India
The southern Indian state of Karnataka, home to the tech hub of Bengaluru, banned the use of social media by those under the age of 16 on Friday (6 March), becoming the first in India to join global calls for more scrutiny of minors' digital usage.
Karnataka's neighbouring state Goa is also weighing a similar ban, its IT minister said in January, while in the same month, a lawmaker from Andhra Pradesh state proposed a bill to curb social media for children.
Portugal’s parliament approved on 12 February a bill on first reading requiring explicit parental consent for children aged 13 to 16 to access social media.
The draft law, proposed by the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), aims to protect minors from cyberbullying, harmful content and online predators.
Parents would use the Digital Mobile Key (DMK) system to grant consent, while tech companies must implement compatible age verification tools. The bill passed by 148 votes to 69, with 13 abstentions and can still be amended before a final vote.
Britain is weighing an Australia-style ban, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying the government is ready to take “robust action.” Officials are reviewing whether features such as infinite scrolling and the digital age of consent should be restricted.
“This is a hugely complex issue, so it’s important it’s properly considered,” Starmer said, adding that childhood today too often means “endless scrolling, anxiety and comparison.”
China enforces some of the world’s strictest internet controls, blocking large numbers of websites and social media platforms for both adults and children. It has also introduced measures to limit children’s technology use, including restricting online gaming for under-18s and regulating screen time on social media.
In the U.S., children’s online protections are mainly governed by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which bars companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. The law does not ban under-13s from using social media but holds platforms legally responsible if they collect data without approval.
This is why many platforms set a minimum age of 13. Some U.S. states have gone further, introducing stricter rules that require parental consent for under-16s and mandate age verification.
Türkiye is moving towards restricting social media access for minors, with a parliamentary report recommending measures such as age verification, content filtering and a ban for under-16s.
President Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling AK Party is expected to submit draft legislation soon, with officials saying it would also introduce night-time internet restrictions and mandatory content controls until age 18.
Denmark
Denmark plans to ban social media for children under 15, while allowing parents to grant access to certain platforms for children aged 13 and above.
It's reported by rfi that the French Senate supports plans aimed at banning social media access for children under the age of 15, after a vote was held on Tuesday (31 March). However, the article says there are legal differences on how the Senate sees it being implemented.
President Emmanuel Macron wants the law in place by the start of the next academic year in September and has urged France to follow Australia’s example, blaming social media as one factor behind youth violence. However, the disagreements between the Senate and the government over the implentation could delay the beginning of the ban.
In Germany, children aged 13 to 16 are allowed to use social media only with parental consent, though critics say enforcement is weak.
A YouGov poll last year found that 77% of respondents in Germany either “fully” or “somewhat” supported an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s.
Greece is “very close” to announcing a ban on social media for children under 15, a senior government source told Reuters.
India’s chief economic adviser has called social media platforms “predatory,” urging age restrictions. Goa state officials said they are studying Australia’s law.
“If possible, we will implement a similar ban on children below 16,” said Goa’s IT minister Rohan Khaunte.
Children under 14 require parental consent to sign up for social media accounts, while no consent is needed above that age.
Norway has proposed raising the digital age of consent to 15 and is drafting legislation to set a firm minimum age limit for social media use.
Spain
Spain’s government has approved a draft law that would raise the minimum age for opening a social media account from 14 to 16, though the measure has yet to take effect. Under the proposal, children under 16 would need explicit parental consent to use social media.
The draft also obliges platforms to introduce robust age-verification systems. However, the plan has drawn criticism from technology figures, including Elon Musk
The European Parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution calling for a minimum age of 16 for social media, while urging a harmonised digital age limit of 13 across the bloc.
“I am in favour because the experts I know say that it is terribly harmful to children. We must protect our children,” he said.
Overall, governments worldwide are reassessing how children engage with social media, with Australia’s ban now shaping policy discussions far beyond its borders.
The Central European country’s government said on 27 March that it planned to introduce a social media ban for children under 14.
Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler said addictive algorithms and content featuring “sexualised violence” would be targeted by the ban.
"We will decisively protect children and young people in [the] future from the negative effects of social media," Babler added.
The government has yet to say when the ban will come into force, but legislation will be drawn up by the end of June.
Speaking during a White House state dinner for the British monarch’s state visit to Washington on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that t...
Former security chief Kamchybek Tashiev has been questioned in connection with an alleged attempt to seize power by force, Kyrgyz lawyer Sherdor Ab...
Kyrgyzstan is preparing a new national programme aimed at increasing employment, reducing poverty and improving the coordination of labour, social ...
Profits for worldwide energy company TotalEnergies have risen 41% in three months, as global energy supplies are disrupted after two months of war ...
Reversing a decade of restrictions, New South Wales has opened new areas for gas exploration in its remote west. The move reflects growing concern ...
In a parliamentary vote on Wednesday (22 April), Turkish lawmakers approved legislation designed to protect minors from harmful online content. Passed after lengthy deliberations, the measure includes an outright ban on social media use by children under 15.
Authorities in China have launched an investigation into a wave of online bullying targeting Olympic diving champion Quan Hongchan, as concerns grow over the impact of toxic fan behaviour on young public figures.
Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from 1 January 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.
A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Alphabet’s Google and Meta liable for $6m in damages in a landmark social media addiction lawsuit, a ruling that could influence thousands of similar cases.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday Iran could telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to their two-month war. Tehran said the U.S. should remove obstacles to a deal, including its blockade of Iran's ports. Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in St Petersburg for talks.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
The death toll from a train collision near Indonesia’s capital Jakarta rose to 14 women on Tuesday (28 April), with 84 people injured, after rescuers completed efforts to free passengers trapped in the wreckage, the state rail operator said.
Speaking during a White House state dinner for the British monarch’s state visit to Washington on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. has "militarily defeated" Tehran and that King Charles III did not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. However, Charles did not mention the Iran war.
Mexican special forces arrested Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero”, a senior commander of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation in the western state of Nayarit, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said on Monday (27 April).
Reversing a decade of restrictions, New South Wales has opened new areas for gas exploration in its remote west. The move reflects growing concern over future energy supply across Australia’s east coast.
Travel demand across China is expected to remain robust during the upcoming five-day Labour Day holiday starting 1 May.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 29th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Mali’s military leader, Assimi Goita, has said the situation is “under control” in his first public remarks since a wave of coordinated attacks shook the country last weekend.
Police arrested an 89-year-old suspected of wounding five people in two separate gun attacks in Athens on Tuesday, the Greek Citizens' Protection Ministry said on Tuesday (28 April).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment