Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis bans social media for children under 15

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a new measure to protect the mental health of minors, stating that "we decided to prohibit access to social media for children under 15 years old." Speaking at the International Initiative for Health forum of the WHO, held during the SNF Nostos 2026 event at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, he linked excessive screen time and "doom‑scrolling" to harmful effects on developing brains.

Mitsotakis emphasized the need for digital platforms to be held accountable, urging them to cooperate with regulators and warning that profiting from children's attention is unacceptable. He pledged to share the research underpinning the decision with the President of the European Commission and to seek a European‑level framework. As alternatives to screen use, he advocated sports, exercise and creative activities such as learning a musical instrument.

The announcement reflects a broader policy focus on mental‑health prevention, with the government planning to strengthen school infrastructure, teacher training and parental support alongside the social‑media restriction.