tech
Greece announces social media ban for under-15s, citing anxiety and sleep problems
PM says ban will come into force in January if it is backed by parliament and calls for united action across EU
TL;DR
- Greece will ban social media access for children under 15 from January 1st.
- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cited rising anxiety, sleep problems, and addictive platform design as reasons for the ban.
- The Greek parliament is expected to vote on the ban this summer.
- Greece's move aligns with similar legislative efforts in France, Australia, Spain, Malaysia, Denmark, and Poland.
- A Greek survey showed overwhelming support for the crackdown, with majorities in several European countries also backing social media restrictions for minors.
- Despite widespread support, skepticism exists regarding the effectiveness of such bans.
- Teachers in Greece have reported young children suffering from severe sleep deprivation.
- Greece will urge the European Union to standardize online age-verification tools by 2027.
- The ban will restrict access to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat for those born after 2012.