Greece’s parliament has approved a law prohibiting children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, marking the country’s entry into a growing movement aimed at restricting young users’ access to these applications. The legislation was passed on Friday following a tense parliamentary debate that began the previous day.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the conservative New Democracy party, initially announced the proposed ban in April. He publicly addressed the issue via TikTok, one of the most widely used social networks among Greek youth, describing the measure as "difficult but necessary" to protect minors from potential harms associated with social media use.

During the parliamentary session, New Democracy, which holds a majority in the legislature, successfully pushed the bill through despite opposition from other parties. The centre-left socialist Pasok party chose to abstain after proposing an alternative approach. Their plan called for banning social media for children under 13, while instituting parental controls for those aged 13 and 14. Other opposition groups, including left-wing and nationalist parties, voted against the legislation.

The law places Greece among countries that have recently taken steps to limit or regulate minors' online activity, reflecting increasing global concerns about the psychological and developmental impact of social media on children and adolescents. Critics of the new measure argue that it may be overly restrictive and raise practical challenges related to enforcement and determining users’ ages online.

Supporters maintain the policy is a proactive effort to safeguard young users from exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and other digital risks. The government has emphasized the importance of balancing technological innovation and youth safety in the digital age.

The law is expected to come into effect in the near future, with details on implementation and compliance requirements to be clarified by Greek authorities.