Greece proposes limiting children under 15's access to social networks to protect their health and safety

Greece is proposing setting the minimum age for access to social media platforms at 15, as part of a bill that is due to be examined by a parliamentary committee on Tuesday. The initiative seeks to strengthen the protection of children online and reduce the risks associated with early exposure to social networks.

The bill was submitted on Friday evening by Minister of State Akis Skertsos and provides for restricting access to these services for minors under 15. The Greek government argues that platform algorithms, designed to increase the time spent online through personalized recommendations and continuous content feeds, may encourage problematic or addictive behaviors.

The measures could be implemented through digital age-verification tools already available in Greece, including the Gov.gr Wallet and KidsWallet applications. Oversight would be provided by the National Council for Radio and Television and the Hellenic Data Protection Authority.

The provisions would apply to children under 15, their parents or guardians, platform providers, and the authorities responsible for monitoring compliance with the law.

Greece's initiative comes after Turkey banned, on Saturday, the use of social media by people under the age of 15, amid growing concerns about the effects of these platforms on children and adolescents.