File photo. [InTime News]
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has defended the government’s plan to ban teenagers under the age of 15 from using social media from next year, citing concerns over mental health, while indicating that gaming and online gambling will be the next sectors to face age-related restrictions.
The prime minister announced the measure on TikTok on Wednesday, outlining the conservative New Democracy government’s proposal.
In follow-up comments for an infokids.gr interview published Thursday, Mitsotakis criticized what he described as “infinite scrolling,” arguing that social media platforms are designed to maximize user time online for profit.
“Parents are desperate,” he said, adding that the new framework would give them “two weapons”: the ability to tell children that social media use is illegal under the new rules, and the introduction of mandatory age verification by platforms starting January 1, 2027.
Mitsotakis said social media companies will be required to verify users’ ages, while urging parents to consult the government platform parco.gov.gr for guidance on device settings and application restrictions.
He stressed that the initiative is part of a broader strategy, announcing that gaming and online gambling will be addressed next. Artificial intelligence and its impact on education are also on government’s agenda, Mitsotakis said.
“Do we want artificial intelligence and these applications to do our children’s homework, or should children do it themselves?” he questioned. “It is a reality – let’s not kid ourselves – it is already happening today as we speak.”