New legislation will establish a “digital age of majority” prohibiting access to social media for children under the age of 15 with effect from 1 January 2027, the Greek government announced yesterday.

In a press release, the government highlighted the introduction of a ban in Australia, where under-16s can no longer have social media accounts, and advanced plans for a similar ban in France.

It said the move would protect children’s “mental health, smooth psychosocial development, and also their privacy and personal data” while also “strengthening the role of parents and guardians”.

Greece’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has called on the European Commission to implement the ban across the EU – though many member states are likely to push back on this.

The Irish government has not announced a ban, but commits in its national digital and AI strategy to work with other EU member states to “explore options to introduce age restrictions on the use of social media concentrating, in particular, on those under 16 years of age”.

Ireland’s position is that any decision on a “digital age of majority” should be taken at EU level, but that action can be taken at a national level “if necessary”.

The Children’s Rights Alliance has warned against rushing into a ban which it says could itself cause avoidable harm to children.