Greece to Bar Children Under 15 From Social Media

Greece is set to restrict social media access for children under 15, with a new law mandating age verification on major platforms. The legislation, passed by the country's parliament, will come into force on January 1, 2027. It requires services like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X to implement reliable methods for confirming a user's age, a move designed to prevent minors from using these networks.

The new rules will be enforced through state-backed applications, specifically Kids Wallet or Gov.gr, which parents would need to download and link to their child's device to block access. According to Greece's digital governance and AI minister, Dimitris Papastergiou, these apps are designed to protect user privacy. They utilize 'age tokens' to confirm a person's age while minimizing the amount of personal data that is disclosed.

Non-compliance with the act will result in penalties, with fines issued under the European Union's Digital Services Act. The legislation was introduced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who earlier this year described the measure as 'difficult but necessary.' The bill was passed with the support of his majority government, though it was opposed by the nation's minority parties.

Minister Papastergiou defended the swift action, stating that waiting for a broader European solution was not an option. 'It would have been very easy to do absolutely nothing today and wait for the perfect European law,' he said, adding, 'Children are sinking into the internet every day, and I believe a responsible government must do what it is obliged to do.' The government previously banned mobile phones in schools in 2024, and polls indicate this new social media restriction is broadly supported by Greek adults.

This move places Greece among the first countries in the European Union to enact such a ban. Prime Minister Mitsotakis has previously stated that his government's 'goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well.' While the European Commission has introduced the EU Kids Act with a similar objective, its provisions would only prohibit social media use for children under 13.

Greece is not the first country to implement such a restriction. Australia was the first nation to pass a full social media ban for kids, though its age verification system has faced challenges in being put into practice. The Greek law will take effect at the start of 2027.