Greece bans social media for under-15s

Greece's parliament passed a law Friday banning children under 15 from using social media, with the measure set to take effect on January 1.

The law will require age verification on social networks and impose penalties on companies that fail to comply.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced plans for the ban in April and described it as a “difficult but necessary” measure.

After a parliamentary debate that began Thursday and continued into Friday, Mitsotakis's conservative New Democracy party used its majority to pass the bill. The Ana news agency reported that no other parties backed it.

The opposition socialist Pasok party abstained after seeking an alternative bill that would have banned social media for under-13s and imposed parental controls for 13- and 14-year-olds. Other left-wing and nationalist parties voted against.

Australia introduced a ban for under-16s last year, and more than 20 countries have passed similar laws, according to an AFP tally. Supporters of curbs say social media algorithms can harm children's mental health, while free-speech advocates and other sceptics have questioned such bans and how well they can be enforced.