Greece Moves to Block Under-15s From Major Social Networks Starting Next Year

Greece has officially enacted a national ban on social media for children under the age of 15. The legislation, which was first proposed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier this year, is now law. It sets a clear deadline for implementation, with the new rules taking full effect on January 1, 2027. This makes Greece one of the first countries in the European Union to impose such a specific restriction on young users.

The law targets major digital platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These services are now mandated to implement age-verification methods that are both proportionate and reliable. Prime Minister Mitsotakis described the bill as a difficult but necessary step for the country. He argued that waiting for a perfect European law was not an option given the current situation. He stated that children are increasingly sinking into the internet, and a responsible government must act accordingly.

Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister for digital governance and AI, emphasized the urgency of the measure. He noted that it would have been easy for the government to do nothing and wait for broader EU regulations. However, he believed the challenge was immediate. He asserted that the government is obliged to protect young users by taking decisive action now rather than later.

Compliance with the new act is enforced through the EU’s Digital Services Act. Platforms that fail to meet the requirements face financial fines. Additionally, parents will be required to download state-backed applications known as Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps must be paired with their child’s device to block unauthorized access. Papastergiou explained that these tools are designed to protect privacy. They use age tokens to confirm a user's age while minimizing the amount of personal data disclosed.

The path to passage was not without political friction. Minority parties in the parliament opposed the legislation. Nevertheless, the ruling majority pushed the bill through. This move follows a 2024 decision by the nation to ban mobile phones in schools. Recent opinion polls indicate that the new social media ban enjoys wide support among the adult population in Greece.

Mitsotakis has stated that the government’s broader goal is to push the European Union toward similar protections. The European Commission has recently introduced the EU Kids Act, which aims to standardize rules for children online. However, that proposed law currently stipulates an outright ban only for those under 13. Greece’s new threshold of 15 is therefore more restrictive. Australia remains the first nation to enact a full social media ban for kids, though the country has faced significant challenges in implementing its age-verification systems.

As the January 2027 deadline approaches, attention turns to how effectively platforms can verify ages without compromising user privacy. The Greek government believes its use of age tokens offers a balanced solution. The success of this model may influence how other EU nations approach the issue in the coming months.