Prime Minister Mitsotakis faces parliamentary backlash over proposed teen social media ban

Prime Minister Mitsotakis used an Instagram video to tell Greek teens that their social-media accounts will be blocked as part of a new regulatory measure aimed at reducing harmful screen time. He joked that the video would not receive many likes but argued the policy serves their physical and mental health. The proposal sparked an intense debate in the plenary, with opposition parties accusing the government of adopting an anti-European, unscientific approach comparable to authoritarian regimes.

They referenced Australia’s full ban, noting research showing limited success and new problems. PASOK’s Stelios Parastatis and other members condemned the plan as pre-election pandering and introduced a counter-proposal for tiered access, restricting under-13s completely and allowing limited, parental-supervised use for ages 13-14.