Global Momentum for Social Media Restrictions on Children

During the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced Greece's intention to explore a ban on social media for children under 16. Speaking at the UN event titled “Protecting Children in the Digital Age,” hosted by Australia, Mitsotakis emphasized the urgent need for global cooperation to address the risks associated with unregulated social media use. He warned, “We are conducting an unprecedented experiment on our children’s minds, with likely negative consequences,” and highlighted Greece's existing measures, including a school mobile phone ban and the launch of the parco.gov.gr platform for age verification and parental controls.

Greek PM Proposes Social Media Ban for Under-16s at UN Event -Mitsotakis and Albanese Unite at UN Event on Protecting Children in the Digital Age -Mitsotakis and Albanese unite at UN to tackle online dangers for childrenMitsotakis to visit Australia in 2026 as leaders unite on child online safety

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that his country will implement a ban on social media access for children under 16 starting December 10, 2025. This legislation, described as a world-first, aims to protect young people from the dangers of cyberbullying and harmful content. Albanese stated that this law would give Australian teens “three more years of being shaped by real-life experience, not algorithms.” The law places the responsibility on social media companies to enforce the ban, with significant penalties for non-compliance.

Under-16 Social Media Ban in Australia To Set Global Standards?

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed strong support for Australia's initiative, calling it “plain common sense.” She indicated that many EU member states are considering similar measures, advocating for a “digital majority age” for social media access. Von der Leyen, a mother and grandmother, underscored the importance of protecting children online, stating, “We all agree that young people should reach a certain age before they smoke, drink, or have access to adult content. The same can be said for social media.”

EU chief backs calls to keep children off social mediaEU Joins Australia’s Push To Ban Under-16s From Social MediaThe Sydney Morning HeraldUnder-16 Social Media Ban in Australia To Set Global Standards?Mitsotakis and Albanese unite at UN to tackle online dangers for children

The event featured a poignant testimony from Emma Mason, whose 15-year-old daughter Tilly died by suicide after being bullied online. Mason described her daughter's death as “death by bullying enabled by social media,” urging attendees to change the narrative for the sake of other children. Albanese praised her courage, stating, “If I had the power to hand out Orders of Australia, I would have walked up on stage here and given Emma one on the spot.”

Under-16 Social Media Ban in Australia To Set Global Standards?

While the push for social media restrictions has garnered significant support, critics argue that blanket bans may oversimplify a complex issue. Concerns have been raised that such restrictions could push young users toward less-regulated platforms and limit their access to educational resources. Additionally, enforcement mechanisms like AI-based age verification may raise privacy and reliability issues.

Under-16 Social Media Ban in Australia To Set Global Standards?

Mitsotakis is expected to visit Australia in early 2026 to further discuss child online safety measures. As countries like France, Pakistan, and New Zealand consider similar laws, the global dialogue on protecting children from online harms continues to evolve, with leaders increasingly recognizing the need for coordinated action.

Mitsotakis and Albanese Unite at UN Event on Protecting Children in the Digital Age -