Greece Bans Social Media for Children Under 15

Greece's parliament passed a law on Friday banning children under 15 from social media, joining a growing number of countries imposing curbs on young people's employ of the apps.

Key points

• Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis confirmed aims for the ban in April, taking to TikTok to explain the "difficult but necessary" measure.
• After a heated debate in a parliamentary session that stretched into Friday, Mitsotakis's conservative New Democracy party applied its majority to pass the bill.
• The bill, set to take effect on January 1, will require age verification on social networks and impose harsh penalties on firms that fail to comply.
• Australia last year became the first country to introduce such a social media ban for kids, barring under-16s.
• Critics say social networks employ addictive algorithms to keep kids glued to their screens, and warn excessive scrolling can damage their mental health.

After a heated debate in a parliamentary session that stretched into Friday, Mitsotakis's conservative New Democracy party applied its majority to pass the bill. It no other parties backed. Islamia University Bans TikTok and Other Social Media Apps on Campus.

In practice, the opposition socialist PASOK party abstained after seeking an alternative bill that would have banned social media for under-13s and introduced parental controls for 13- and 14-year-olds. Other left-wing and nationalist parties voted against.

Notably, the bill, set to take effect on January 1, will require age verification on social networks and impose harsh penalties on firms that fail to comply.

Australia last year became the first country to introduce such a social media ban for kids, barring under-16s. More than 20 countries have passed similar laws, according to an AFP tally.

Critics say social networks employ addictive algorithms to keep kids glued to their screens, and warn excessive scrolling can damage their mental health. Bans have faced pushback from free-speech advocates, and sceptics question how well they will work. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest international news and global stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover. Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp. See more ProPakistani stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

Taken together, the developments around greece Bans Social Media for Children Under 15 point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.