Greece Enforces Social Media Ban for Minors Under 15

Greece has enacted a law that will bar children under the age of 15 from using major social media platforms starting next year. The legislation places the country among the first in the European Union to impose such a restriction. It follows a promise made earlier this year by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The ban applies to services including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These platforms must implement age-verification systems that officials describe as proportionate and reliable. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Mitsotakis called the bill difficult but necessary. Digital governance and AI minister Dimitris Papastergiou argued that waiting for a unified European law would have meant inaction. He stated that children are sinking into the internet every day and that a responsible government must act now.

Compliance will be enforced through fines under the EU's Digital Services Act. For households, parents will use two state-backed applications: Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps pair with a child's device to block access to the restricted services.

Papastergiou explained that the apps are designed to limit data collection. They use age tokens to confirm a user's age while revealing the least amount of personal information possible. This technical approach aims to balance access control with privacy protection.

Minority parties in Parliament opposed the measure. Mitsotakis relied on his government's majority to secure passage. The move builds on a 2024 policy that banned mobile phones in schools. Opinion polls show that most Greek adults support the new social media restriction.

The Prime Minister said the government aims to push the EU in the same direction. The European Commission recently proposed the EU Kids Act, which would ban social media only for children under 13. Greece's threshold is two years higher.

Australia was the first nation to enact a full ban for minors. Age verification there has proven challenging. Greece will now test its state-app model, which must overcome similar technical hurdles to ensure the ban works in practice.