Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his government would introduce a "phased" national strategy to inform parents and children and encourage social media firms to "show responsibility".
"There is a huge experiment on the brains of our children right now...this has to stop. A reaction is needed and I want Greece to play a leading role," Mitsotakis said at the launch of the campaign in Athens.
Addressing the social media firms, he added: "You have already made a lot of money, you don't need to make money from children and teenagers when we know very well that what you are doing is dangerous for their mental health."
"The platforms understand that the pressure is going to increase significantly," he added.
Officials who spoke at the launch said at least one in ten Greek teenagers has a "serious" problem with internet addiction.
The measures include a new parental control website that offers advice on how to install browsing safeguards on children's phones.
By early April, Greece will also introduce an age verification tool and daily browsing limits linked to a specific device, officials said.
In a speech to the UN in September, Mitsotakis warned that heavy use of social media is linked to "depression, feelings of isolation, sleep deprivation and addiction".
He praised Australia, which in November approved a law ordering social media firms such as Facebook, Instagram and X to take "reasonable steps" to prevent children under 16 from having accounts.
Social media firms that do not comply with the ban, which will take effect in 1 year, face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($31 million) for "systemic violations."
The law has received much criticism, including from the United Nations children's charity UNICEF, which warned that it could drive children into "hidden and unregulated" spaces online.
Lawmakers from Spain to Florida have proposed bans on social media use by young teens, though none of the measures have yet been implemented.
Since 2021, China has restricted access to minors, with children under 14 not allowed to spend more than 40 minutes a day on Douyin, China's version of TikTok. | BGNES
.jpg)
