Governments Are Starting to Ban Children from Social Media. Here is why.

Governments around the world are taking stronger action against social media use by children, as concerns grow about its impact on mental health and daily life.

The latest move comes from Greece, which has announced that children under the age of 15 will be banned from accessing social media starting January 1, 2027.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the decision is aimed at tackling rising anxiety, poor sleep, and what he described as the “addictive” nature of many online platforms.

In a video message directed at young people, Mitsotakis explained that spending too much time online can prevent the mind from resting. According to the government, many parents have raised concerns about their children staying up late on their phones, struggling with anxiety, and spending too much time on social media.

The move appears to have strong public support. A recent ALCO opinion poll found that about 80% of people surveyed agreed with the decision.

Greece has already taken steps in this direction, including banning mobile phones in schools and introducing tools to help parents control how much time their children spend online.

But Greece is not alone. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Austria, and Slovenia, are also looking at similar restrictions.

In the UK, the government has already started testing possible rules. Around 300 teenagers are taking part in a six-week trial where limits are placed on their social media use. Researchers are studying how these changes affect their sleep, school performance, and family life.

The growing push follows earlier action by Australia, which became the first country in the world to block social media access for children under 16 in 2025.

In a more recent case, a US lawsuit found Meta and YouTube liable in a landmark social media addiction case, which ruled that the companies intentionally designed their platforms in ways that harmed a young user’s mental health.