The comprehensive strategic plan to restrict access to social media for minors under 15 was presented today, Wednesday April 8th, by Ministers of State Akis Skertsos, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, and Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, who detailed measures aimed at combating digital addiction and protecting young people’s mental health.
Akis Skertsos on social media ban for minors: Greece doesn’t just follow developments, it shapes the European agenda
Mr. Skertsos provided the political framework for this initiative, which he said represents a personal commitment by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “Greece doesn’t just follow developments, it shapes the European agenda. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, through his letter to the Commission President, has placed this issue at the heart of the EU. We propose five specific additions to DSA legislation, demanding mandatory age verification across Europe and a common digital age of majority at 15 years,” noted the Minister of State.
Referring to the timeline, he was clear: “We are immediately beginning an intensive diplomatic effort. In the second quarter of 2026, we will enter the European consultation phase, with the goal of passing national legislation by summer 2026. Full implementation of the ban will begin in January 2027. We want our children to rediscover their time in the physical world, with friends, in sports and play.”
“Endless scrolling harms our children’s mental health. This is a necessary and sufficient measure. We have responsibility at both national and European levels,” emphasized Mr. Skertsos.
Adonis Georgiadis: Algorithms cannot define our children’s mental health
In turn, Mr. Georgiadis presented alarming epidemiological data that made this regulation imperative, describing the addiction challenge as a “silent pandemic.”
“The data available to us is shocking. 23% of fifteen-year-olds in Greece report feeling insecure or irritated when they don’t have access to their mobile phone. This is the first symptom of addiction,” emphasized the Health Minister.
Analyzing the consequences, Mr. Georgiadis focused on three pillars:
– Physical Health: “The sedentary lifestyle imposed by endless scrolling leads to exponential increases in childhood obesity, sleep disorders and ophthalmological problems.”
– Mental Health: “We observe a steep increase in anxiety, depression and, worst of all, suicidal ideation due to cyberbullying and unrealistic standards being promoted.”
– Psychosocial Impact: “Children lose their ability to concentrate and socialize. This creates digital isolation that undermines their future adult life.”
“Our intervention is not punitive, it is life-saving,” concluded the Health Minister.
Dimitris Papastergiou: Technological protection through Kids Wallet and strict sanctions
The Digital Governance Minister detailed the technical component, explaining how technology will be used as a means of protection rather than threat. “The bill holds platforms accountable. Under the DSA framework, companies must implement reliable age verification mechanisms. We offer the solution through Kids Wallet in the Gov.gr Wallet. Age tokens will be used. This means the platform will only know that the user is over 15, without access to any other personal data or identity information. We guarantee 100% privacy,” emphasized Mr. Papastergiou.
Regarding oversight and sanctions, the Digital Governance Minister was categorical: “We won’t spare anyone. Sanctions will be extremely strict, reaching up to 6% of companies’ global turnover, as provided by the European framework. Oversight will be continuous and controls will be random but exhaustive. In short, we are creating an environment where safe platform operation is the only option.”
See the complete presentation of the new regulatory framework for minors’ access to social media HERE
Kyriakos Mitsotakis announcement with “6-7” about social media ban for children under 15
From January 1, 2027, the ban on social media access for minors under 15 takes effect, as announced earlier by Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “We decided to proceed with something difficult but necessary: to ban access to social media for children under 15,” he stated
