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So, it’s actually happening. Starting in 2027, Greece is banning social media for anyone under the age of 15.
\nPrime Minister Mitsotakis went on TikTok today to break the news. He’s doing this because he’s seen a massive rise in anxiety and sleep loss in kids who are addicted to their screens. He even sent a letter to the EU asking them to make this a standard across all of Europe.
\nGreece is following Australia, which was the first to pass a nationwide under-16 ban back in late 2024. Now countries like France and Spain are moving in the same direction.
\nIt’s not just a guess—there is real research here. A study from Western University found that “passive scrolling” (just watching videos without interacting) is what really triggers the anxiety. It’s like the brain never gets a chance to rest.
\nThey aren’t just asking nicely. Greece is using a “Kids Wallet” app that links a child’s phone to a parent’s government ID. It basically lets the phone block the apps automatically at the system level so kids can’t just lie about their age.
\nFor nearly three decades, the age of 13 has been the “invisible line” for the internet. But it wasn’t actually based on a psychological breakthrough or a study on child development. It was based on a 1998 US law called COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act).
\nCOPPA was originally designed to stop websites from collecting data on kids without parental consent. To avoid the paperwork and legal headache of getting that consent, tech companies simply banned anyone under 13. Over time, this legal loophole accidentally became the global “default” age for when a child is supposedly ready for the social internet.
\nThe problem is that a law written in the era of dial-up chat rooms and static web pages is no longer a match for the modern “passive scroll.” Even the FTC recognized this recently; as of April 2026, they’ve updated COPPA with much stricter rules on biometrics and data retention to try and catch up with modern tech.
\nAustralia led the charge with their nationwide under-16 ban last year, and now Greece is pushing that boundary to 15. We are watching the era of “Default 13” come to an end as governments realize that privacy laws aren’t the same as mental health\nprotections.
\nWhile governments focus on age gates and “Kids Wallets,” many parents are left wondering how to manage the devices already in their children’s hands today. If we want to avoid the “culture shock” of a sudden ban, we have to look at the tools we already have.
\nInstead of waiting for a law to take effect in 2027, here is a practical approach to building digital resilience right now:
\nEven though this doesn’t affect me personally, it makes me think about what’s best for children’s future.
\nIf you keep a kid away from social media until they’re 15, won’t they just be completely overwhelmed the moment they finally enter that world? It seems like it would be a huge culture shock. Plus, kids will probably just find a way around it anyway, like using their parents’ phones to scroll.
\nMost phones already have “screen time” features built in. I think parents should just use those features to set daily time restrictions. It feels like teaching them how to handle it in small doses would be better than just a complete ban. But it looks like the decision has already been made anyway.
\nShould we have a total ban like this, or should we just use time restrictions to help kids learn how to balance their lives?
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