Greece Near Ban on Social Media for Under-15s, Reuters Reports

Greece is ‘very close’ to banning social media use for children under 15, according to a Reuters report, following Portugal, France, and Austria. Citing a senior government source, Reuters states that Greece is poised to announce restrictions on minors’ access to social platforms. Spain also announced plans on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, to ban social media for those under 16 and hold platform CEOs personally liable for hate speech on their services. Portugal recently introduced a bill setting the digital age of consent at 16, requiring parental consent for users aged 13–16 and mandating age-verification systems aligned with national administrative software. Lawmakers cited growing scientific evidence showing early social media use—before age 16—can harm cognitive and social development and increase addiction risks. This debate over digital maturity is spreading across Europe since Australia became the first country in December to ban social media for under-16s. Last week, France’s parliament passed a law prohibiting social media access for minors under 15, backed by the government as a measure to protect adolescent mental health.