Greece Mandates Social Media Restrictions for Under-15s

Greece’s new legislation restricting social media access for children under the age of fifteen has officially taken effect as a binding law, with implementation scheduled for the first day of 2027. The measure, which targets major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X, requires these services to implement reliable and proportionate age-verification systems. This regulatory step marks one of the first national bans of its kind within the European Union, following an announcement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier this year that described the initiative as difficult yet necessary.

The legislative process was driven by a majority government, allowing the bill to pass despite opposition from minority parties. Prior to this specific social media restriction, Greece had already established a precedent by banning mobile phones in schools in 2024. Public sentiment appears to align with the government’s direction, as opinion polls indicate that the adult population in Greece broadly supports the new rules governing children’s online presence.

Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister responsible for digital governance and artificial intelligence, articulated the rationale behind the decision in a statement to the press. He argued that waiting for a perfect European-wide law was not a viable strategy given the current pace of change. "It would have been very easy to do absolutely nothing today and wait for the perfect European law. But the challenge is here. Children are sinking into the internet every day, and I believe a responsible government must do what it is obliged to do," Papastergiou said.

Under the new framework, non-compliance by digital service providers will result in fines levied under the EU’s Digital Services Act. Additionally, parents will be required to utilize state-backed applications named Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These tools must be paired with a child’s device to actively block access when necessary. Papastergiou noted that these applications are engineered to protect privacy by using "age tokens," a technology designed to confirm a user's age while minimizing the amount of personal data disclosed.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis has stated that the administration’s broader objective is to influence the European Union to adopt similar standards. This national action coincides with the European Commission’s recent introduction of the EU Kids Act, which proposes an outright ban only for children under the age of thirteen. While Australia was the first nation to implement a full social media ban for minors, the Greek government is moving forward with its own distinct approach, acknowledging the implementation challenges seen in other jurisdictions.

As the January 2027 deadline approaches, the focus will shift toward the technical execution of age-verification methods and the widespread adoption of the designated parental control apps. The success of the law will likely depend on how effectively platforms integrate these verification systems without creating significant barriers for users, setting a potential precedent for other European nations considering similar regulatory frameworks.