Mitsotakis says under-15s should be banned from major social media platforms, warns of AI's "extreme" risks

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that his government intends to bar children under 15 from major social media platforms, warning that excessive use is causing more harm than benefit to young people's mental health, during a wide-ranging discussion with General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja at an Endeavor Greece event on the Pnyx.

"Society is running an experiment on the brains of children and teenagers," Mr. Mitsotakis said, arguing that a clear legal age limit would help parents resist peer pressure from children who currently argue that "all their friends" have access.

He called for a broader European regulatory framework, saying current EU initiatives lack sufficient ambition to protect minors.

On the economy, Mr. Mitsotakis said his government has proven that a moderate, centrist administration can defeat populism by delivering on its promises, citing a 41% increase in the minimum wage that has outpaced inflation, and expressed confidence in a third-term election bid.

Turning to artificial intelligence, Mr. Mitsotakis touted Greece's growing partnerships with companies including OpenAI, ElevenLabs and ICEYE, and highlighted a satellite manufacturing facility potentially producing up to 150 SAR satellites annually and employing more than 250 people.

He also described a Defense Ministry pilot program directing a small share of its budget toward contracts with startups working on unmanned maritime systems.

Despite the opportunities, Mr. Mitsotakis voiced concern over AI's risks, citing warnings from Anthropic's CEO about the technology's potential dark side and questioning whether current market valuations reflect a bubble or foreshadow unprecedented worker displacement. He also warned that AI's growing sophistication in writing could fundamentally reshape how students are evaluated in schools, predicting a shift back toward oral exams and in-person testing.