Greece is preparing to ban under-15s from social media. [Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters]
A landmark ban on social media for minors under 15 announced Wednesday by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has drawn criticism from experts who question its practical effectiveness, legal proportionality and impact on civil liberties.
While the measure enjoys 80% public approval, critics point to recent data from Australia, where a similar ban implemented in late 2025 saw nearly 70% of minors bypass restrictions via VPNs. To address these enforcement gaps, Greece will debut a “Kids Wallet” for digital age verification.
However, Yannis Theocharis, a professor at the Technical University of Munich, warns that horizontal bans may inadvertently drive children toward unregulated “dark” platforms like 4chan, where extremism is common.
Further complicating the policy, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty cautions that universal bans are “neither proportionate nor necessary,” arguing that internet access is a fundamental right.