Are dominos falling for teen social media as more countries look to regulate its use?
Greek Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that Greece will be the latest country to ban children from social media, calling it a “difficult but necessary measure”
From January 1 2027, children under the age of 15 will no longer be able to access social media in the country .
Mitsotakis took to TikTok to announce the decision so that he could address teenagers and children directly: “I know that some of you are going to be angry. […] Our aim is not to keep you away from technology, but to combat addiction to certain applications that harms your innocence and your freedom.
“Science is clear: when a child is in front of screens for hours, their brain does not rest,” he said.
@kyriakosmitsotakis_ Αποφασίσαμε να προχωρήσουμε σε κάτι δύσκολο αλλά απαραίτητο: να απαγορεύσουμε την πρόσβαση στα social media σε παιδιά κάτω των 15 ετών.
♬ original sound – Kyriakos Mitsotakis
A Greek Safer Internet Centre in Athens revealed around 75% of children using social media in the country are still in primary school. The ban has widespread support among adults in Greece, with a recent Alco poll suggesting 80% support the ban.
Greece is not the only country considering a ban. Australia was the first country to impose restrictions, which came into effect December 10, 2025. Austria, France, Spain, Slovenia, and the UK are also considering legislation, which could restrict the use of social media for teenagers and children.
In the UK, MPs rejected a strict ban for under 16s, with the government instead launching a consultation into whether platforms should be forced to switch off addictive features like autoplay, or whether a minimum age requirement should be introduced.
Any ban would have a huge knock-on effect for influencer marketing, which is typically most effective with young audiences.
Influencers in Greece turnover roughly €90m a year, an Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) audit revealed, with brand deals, e-shops, and guest appearances all pushing active players as a legitimate and effective advertising tool.
